Wollongong City Council has to fix a pedestrian island it placed in the middle of Lawrence Hargrave Drive without the proper approval.
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And it will have to do it before the Bulli Pass closure in a little over two weeks.
The council recently installed the island, on Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Thirroul outside the IGA supermarket, as part of works to improve the suburb’s CBD.
But the work “was carried out without Roads and Maritime Services’ approval”, said an RMS spokesman.
“Wollongong City Council has planned modifications and Roads and Maritime will be working with Council to ensure technical standards are met,” the spokesman said.
It is also understood the work must be completed before October 4 when Bulli Pass will be closed.
RMS has committed to having no roadwork carried out on either of the two detour routes for the length of the closure to minimise impacts on traffic.
A spokesman from Wollongong City Council said the refuge was designed to allow for safe movement of pedestrians “while permitting the passage of a large semitrailer at low speed”.
“Following comments from the community and road users who have indicated some difficulty in travelling past the island Wollongong City Council is modifying the design of the pedestrian island installed on Lawrence Hargrave Drive as part of the Thirroul Town Centre project,” the spokesman said.
“Council is working with Roads and Maritime Services.”
The original pedestrian island was lifted into position and installed over several nights while Lawrence Hargrave Drive was closed.
The council spokesman said they were aware of the October 4 deadline and would have work on the island completed before then.
“Works to modify the pedestrian island will be undertaken by Council prior to RMS works on Bulli Pass beginning on October 4,” the spokesman said.
“Works will take approximately four to five days and be completed outside of trading hours.”
The spokesman said the island formed part of a “Town Centre” upgrade to the western side of Lawrence Hargrave Drive from Beaches Hotel to the Arthur Street service station.
“The works include new kerb and guttering and a new footpath surface that will match in style the existing upgraded footpaths in Thirroul,” the spokesman said.
“The streetscape design has seen two terrazzo art work panels, tree planting, seating, bike racks and bins installed.
“The pedestrian island will provide a safe crossing zone across Lawrence Hargrave Drive.”