Proposed Road Safety Improvements for Towradgi Road

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Consultation has concluded

As part of Council’s commitment to improving road safety, we’re proposing to put in a new pedestrian refuge on Towradgi Road and some speed humps on either side of the railway bridge to reduce vehicle speeds.

There have been some serious rear-end crashes on the westbound approach to Memorial Drive. There are also accounts of speeding eastbound vehicles becoming airborne at this point on Towradgi Road. We’re proposing to put in speed humps on either side of the railway bridge to slow speeds and help prevent more crashes.

Another road safety issue in this area is that people using the zebra crossing at the Carters Lane intersection are at risk of being hit by vehicles. At the moment, you’ll often see vehicles driving around others that have stopped at the crossing waiting to let people cross. As it’s unsafe, the crossing doesn’t meet current road safety standards, so it will be removed and replaced by a new refuge crossing.

With the new refuge, the road will be narrowed to a single traffic lane in each direction and people crossing the road will be able to wait safely in the middle. It won’t rely on all drivers having to stop, as people will only be crossing one side at a time when there’s a safe gap. The picture shows an example of a refuge crossing.

The design plan shows the turn from Carters Lane into Towradgi Rd changed to Left Turn Only, and new No Right Turn into Carters Lane for eastbound vehicles on Towradgi Rd. A new kerb ramp is also proposed for the corner of Carters Lane and Towradgi Road.

Works are expected to be complete in 2020/21. With good weather, they’ll take around 6-8 weeks to complete. We’ll let residents in the area know when works are planned to start closer to the time.

The Frequently Asked Questions and Consultation Plan provide more information. We’d like to know your thoughts on these proposed road safety improvements. To join the conversation, complete the feedback form, ask us a question about the plan in the Q&A, email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 4227 7111.

Let us know your thoughts by Monday 22 June 2020.

As part of Council’s commitment to improving road safety, we’re proposing to put in a new pedestrian refuge on Towradgi Road and some speed humps on either side of the railway bridge to reduce vehicle speeds.

There have been some serious rear-end crashes on the westbound approach to Memorial Drive. There are also accounts of speeding eastbound vehicles becoming airborne at this point on Towradgi Road. We’re proposing to put in speed humps on either side of the railway bridge to slow speeds and help prevent more crashes.

Another road safety issue in this area is that people using the zebra crossing at the Carters Lane intersection are at risk of being hit by vehicles. At the moment, you’ll often see vehicles driving around others that have stopped at the crossing waiting to let people cross. As it’s unsafe, the crossing doesn’t meet current road safety standards, so it will be removed and replaced by a new refuge crossing.

With the new refuge, the road will be narrowed to a single traffic lane in each direction and people crossing the road will be able to wait safely in the middle. It won’t rely on all drivers having to stop, as people will only be crossing one side at a time when there’s a safe gap. The picture shows an example of a refuge crossing.

The design plan shows the turn from Carters Lane into Towradgi Rd changed to Left Turn Only, and new No Right Turn into Carters Lane for eastbound vehicles on Towradgi Rd. A new kerb ramp is also proposed for the corner of Carters Lane and Towradgi Road.

Works are expected to be complete in 2020/21. With good weather, they’ll take around 6-8 weeks to complete. We’ll let residents in the area know when works are planned to start closer to the time.

The Frequently Asked Questions and Consultation Plan provide more information. We’d like to know your thoughts on these proposed road safety improvements. To join the conversation, complete the feedback form, ask us a question about the plan in the Q&A, email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 4227 7111.

Let us know your thoughts by Monday 22 June 2020.

Consultation has concluded

Council's Traffic and Transport staff will respond to your questions about the proposed road safety improvements for Towradgi Road. Please sign in or register and read Council’s Privacy Notification before submitting your questions.

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    Have the council considered the fact that the main issue behind accidents in this area is not due to speed over the hump but due to the congestion caused by the Memorial Drive intersection? Perhaps a southern on ramp from Towradgi road including a left turn at any time lane, zebra crossing and merging lane would be a better option of reducing rear end accidents and fatalities rather than speed humps. Please look at addressing the whole picture here not just the easiest option.

    Andrew Hedger asked over 3 years ago

    We understand from the crash data available to Council that rear-end crashes mainly occur when there is traffic queued in the westbound through and right-turn lanes. Serious crashes have then occurred as a result of approaching drivers not travelling at a safe speed over the hump.  The proposed traffic calming is likely to address this issue reasonably effectively.

    As Memorial Drive is a NSW State road, Council is not able to fund any work to construct a southbound ramp and slip lane as you have suggested, for drivers turning left onto Towradgi Road. Given that the crashes are less likely to occur in the westbound kerb lane of Towradgi Road, this proposal may reduce delays for some drivers, however, it is unlikely to see a significant reduction in the rear end crashes.

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    Could the current pedestrian crossing not be raised and double as a speed hump on that side of the road, potentially include flashing lights etc?

    SM1234 asked almost 4 years ago

    A raised threshold crossing to replace the zebra crossing at this location is close to homes.  Unfortunately, noise would be an issue for the closest residents.  The speed humps proposed to go either side of the railway bridge are further away from homes.

    The use of flashing lights at a pedestrian crossing isn't permitted under NSW State Government standards. However, yours is one of a number of suggestions that community members have proposed for improving pedestrian safety in this location. Following the close of consultation, we’ll be considering the options proposed along with all the other feedback we’ve received, and will make changes to the design if needed.

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    Do you have figures for the daily average number of cars that currently turn right out of Towradgi Rd into Carters Lane, and also the number of pedestrians that use the current zebra crossing each day. I know you use such figures to inform your decision-making, and they would certainly help me in formulating my response to the plans.

    Robert Milne asked almost 4 years ago

    The traffic flows at specific points on Carters Lane, Towradgi Road and Pioneer Road have been recorded regularly for a number of years; however pedestrian counts, traffic destination surveys and studies of vehicle turning movements at the intersections have not been carried out. 

    The results of the traffic surveys used in the preparation of the proposal of improvements in Towradgi Road can be summarised:

    • Pioneer Road between Towradgi Road and Edgar Street – 8,500 vehicles per day, 5,000 south west bound, and 3,500 north-east bound
    • Towradgi Road between Carr Street and Carters Lane – 14,300 vehicles per day, 6,600 east bound and 7,700 west bound
    • Carters Lane between Dixon Street and Towradgi Road – 5,800 vehicles per day, 3,200 north bound and 2,600 south bound
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    Have you considered making the left hand side of Towradgi Road, No Parking and widening the Road to provide for a left hand turning lane into Carters Lane? There are so many other options rather than making 'no left hand turn' into Carters Lane. Your proposal will be a disaster for residents of Murranar and Marlo Road.

    Lisastef asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you for sharing your ideas for improving safety on Towradgi Road. We’re aware that this design will likely result in some increased traffic on surrounding streets, mainly at school start and finish times. One of the reasons we’re talking to the community about the proposal is to find out what people think of this, and whether this is an acceptable impact if it means the safety of people crossing the road is improved. Widening any urban road usually means acquiring property from a resident; often the whole house, or several houses. The impact of this on local residents would be significant and is not an option we’re considering for this project.

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    Has Wollongong City Council considered the extra traffic that will now be required to use Marranar & Marlo Roads so residence can get to their homes given the level of high density housing along Carters Lane? Does Wollongong City Council not take into account the safety and lifestyle of the residence in the surrounding streets of Carters Lane?

    Harro asked almost 4 years ago

    We’re aware that this design will likely result in some increased traffic impacts on surrounding streets, mainly at school start and finish times. Improving pedestrian safety has been the primary driver for this project. We’ve put the plan on exhibition to find out what residents think, along with others who use the roads and footpaths in this area, and will consider all feedback we receive. This feedback will be used to make changes to the design if needed.

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    Has a round about been considered for the intersection of Carter's Lane and Towradgi Road? I think a round about would be much more practical instead of the no right hand turns. Plus it'll slow drivers down before they head towards the Towradgi hump.

    Natasha Wildner asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you for your suggestion. Providing a safe point for people to cross Towradgi Road is the first priority, and a roundabout doesn’t provide this so it wasn’t considered. There’s also not enough space to build a roundabout so that the eastbound lane diverts to the left of the travel direction sufficiently to slow drivers down. To build a suitable roundabout, property acquisitions would be required and it would still leave us with the issue of not having a safe crossing point for pedestrians.