Long-term plans to manage traffic in the Wollongong CBD could be hampered by a forced merger with Shellharbour.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wollongong City Council has developed a long-term management plan to move traffic around the CBD.
Part of this involves the creation of a “CBD bypass”, which would see motorists travel along Throsby Drive and Denison Street rather than through the centre of the city.
To that end, council has included a number of traffic lights in and around the CBD in its capital works budget.
In some cases the work is not planned until the 2019-20 financial year.
But a spokesman for council said the likely merger with Shellharbour may impact on these efforts to manage traffic in the city.
“If a merger were to proceed, it is anticipated the newly formed council would continue to deliver on the projects and services included in the respective 2016-17 operational plans as prepared by the existing Shellharbour and Wollongong city councils,” the spokesman said.
“This includes capital works budgets and capital works programs. Adjustments could be made by the future council.
“However, traffic volumes are expected to increase over time and this requires managing.”
The work scheduled for coming years includes traffic lights at three intersections along Campbell Street – at Kembla, Church and Keira streets.
These are partially to aid pedestrians crossing the road.
The so-called “Gilligan’s Island” roundabout at Campbell and Flinders streets will also be replaced with traffic lights.
“Flinders-Campbell is a NSW State road where the roundabout is two lanes and has a history of motor vehicle accidents,” the council spokesman said.
“Pedestrians safety crossing both Campbell and Flinders streets is also poor.”
Traffic lights are also planned for Market and Regent streets, which has seen increased use since the opening of Wollongong Central, and at two Young Street intersections – Victoria and Market streets.
Council is also planning to replace the roundabout at Denison and Victoria streets.
“A key part of the Access and Movement Strategy is to encourage traffic to use Denison Street instead of Crown and Keira streets,” the spokesman said.
“Traffic lights at the intersection of Denison and Victoria streets support this change.
“Traffic lights also have the benefit of being much safer for pedestrians than roundabouts and are an important aspect of making the city more friendly for pedestrians.”