Comment sought on Ocean Beach Rd plan

Public discussion of a traffic management study of Ocean Beach Rd is to be sought by Gosford Council.

The study claims to identify "strategies to improve traffic movement, safety and facilities for all road users".

The study, by Arup Transportation, reviews a number of traffic management measures which could be taken with the road.

These included turn bans and turn bays, changes to line marking, intersection rationalisation, roundabouts, signalised intersections, left in and left out arrangements, pedestrian refuges and pedestrian crossings, street lighting, bus facilities, bicycle facilities and other issues identified in a road safety review

The impacts of each measure on surrounding roads is discussed:

The strategy claims to address the issues along Ocean Beach Rd as a whole.

The aim of the study was "to provide possible alternatives and strategies in discussion with the community that improve safety levels for both pedestrians and traffic in Ocean Beach Rd".

A community workshop, held in August, was organised for invited guests only.

It was attended by representatives from Gosford Council, the RTA, NSW Police, Busways, NSW Fire Brigade, Peninsula Community Centre, the Peninsula Residents Action Group and the Arup project team.

The workshop identified and discussed key issues including the road hierarchy of the Peninsula, land use and traffic generation, speed limits, road capacities, road safety, pedestrian crossing opportunities, cyclist safety, bus movements and road function.

The participants agreed that in order to address the issues, a strategy needed to be developed for the whole of Ocean Beach Rd, rather than treating problem locations as they arose.

The study analysed crash data for Ocean Beach Rd and showed that is had a high crash rate per kilometre compared with average rates for similar roads.

Arup was asked to investigate the existing conditions, including conducting a traffic survey, and analysing accident statistics, and population densities to identify current and future pedestrian and traffic problems along the route.

Crashes involving right turning vehicles and rear end crashes were prominent in the results.

A high number of crashes were recorded at the Railway St, Rawson Rd, McMasters Rd, Bourke Rd and Lone Pine Ave intersections.

The review identified a range of potential road safety hazards, including unprotected hazards, incorrect or inadequate signage, delineation, location of pedestrian refuges and right turn treatments.

Gosford Council has now commissioned a further report which provides recommendations and priorities for traffic management for Ocean Beach Rd.

Council agenda SF.33, November 2