The University of Wollongong’s internal road won’t be a rat run after the Mt Ousley interchange is constructed, according to a Roads and Maritime Services report.
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RMS has released a report responding to public submissions about the proposed interchange at the foot of Mt Ousley, which would separate light and heavy traffic southbound and include a northern entry and exit to the university.
Several submissions were worried that drivers heading north would cut through the university to access the interchange.
The report conceded the interchange “would allow for the use of local roads through the University of Wollongong as an alternate route for traffic travelling between the M1 Princes Motorway and Keiraville”.
However, the report stated motorists looking to use the campus’ internal roads as a rat run would find the journey took longer.
An analysis of travel times showed that “even under the lowest travel times and assumptions for routes through the University of Wollongong, travelling via the motorway and Northfields Avenue would still be the fastest route into, and out of, Keiraville”.
The figures in the report found that, by 2021, routes through the university would be between a few seconds to more than 90 seconds longer than using other roads.
An expected increase in university traffic using the northern entrance would make its use to motorists looking to cut through the campus less attractive.
“The presence of speed humps, tight curves, and high pedestrian activity makes routes through the university slower,” the report said.
Despite the longer travel times, the RMS report said the university’s internal road “is a shorter distance route and therefore may be attractive for some motorists”.
For that reason RMS will create a traffic management plan in consultation with the university for its internal road network.
Other residents expressed concern the traffic congestion now experienced at University Avenue would just move to the interchange, limiting its effectiveness.
The RMS report said the plan for the interchange would spread the traffic load out over a wider area.
“The new access road into the northern side of the University of Wollongong campus would spread the traffic load and, in particular, would reduce congestion at University Avenue and its impact on the M1 Princes Motorway,” the report stated.
Nine submissions from the public targeted the commuter car park that forms part of the interchange – they felt it would be used as free parking by university students.
“Commuters should have adequate access to the commuter car park well before the normal daily arrival of university students from around 8am,” the report said.