A call to change traffic flow to improve access to a planned Aldi supermarket in Corrimal won’t be heeded by Wollongong City Council.
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In December last year council approved a development in a long-time vacant lot in Underwood Street, which will include an Aldi supermarket, 49 residential units and a 122-place child care facility.
Last month, Neighbourhood Committee 4 passed on a resident’s letter to remove the no right turn option into Railway Street for drivers heading south along the Princes Highway.
At present, southbound drivers looking to reach the Underwood Street site face two consecutive no right turn streets – Railway Street and Russell Street.
READ MORE: Aldi plan for Corrimal site
Southbound access to Underwood Street is only available via right hand turns either before or after the Corrimal CBD.
A council spokeswoman said it was not considering changing access into Railway Street.
“Council believes that the dedicated right turn bay and signal at Collins Street is considered adequate to provide an efficient and safe access provision to the Underwood Street area for southbound Princes Highway traffic,” the spokeswoman said.
She said adding a right turn into Railway Street had the potential to cause traffic congestion through the Corrimal CBD as vehicles would be held up by any cars turning right, as much of the left lane is used for car parking.
Also, the spokeswoman said introducing a right turn into Railway Street would be an expensive proposition and require upgrades to other intersections.
“Changes to this intersection would require significant property acquisition, which is not within Council’s budget, to allow for the construction of turning lanes,” the spokeswoman said.
“Placing additional westbound traffic on Railway Street would also require major work at the intersection between Railway Street and Underwood Street, as well as the nearby intersections of Underwood Street and The Avenue and Francis Street.”
