Traffic flow at Ettalong intersection to be studied

Further research will be undertaken into the current traffic flow at the intersection of Bourke Rd and Memorial Ave, Ettalong, following a recent meeting of Gosford Council's local traffic committee.

The issue of the traffic priority at the intersection was raised by concerned local residents.

The committee was told that Bourke Rd and Memorial Ave are both single lane two-way local roads.

The T-intersection of the two roads is currently treated with concrete blisters, painted islands and associated signage and line marking to provide priority for traffic to flow from Memorial Ave south into Bourke Rd.

There have been two injury crashes recorded in the last five year period from 2011 to 2015.

Council officers reviewed the intersection treatment and proposed to provide Stop and Give Way controls giving traffic priority on Bourke Rd.

However, following extensive discussions within the local traffic committee, it was resolved to defer the proposal until more information was gathered.

The proposed works, if they were to go ahead, aimed to improve the safety of the intersection and included installing a Give Way sign on north bound traffic and a Stop sign on south bound traffic of Memorial Ave.

Other proposals were to install 20m of BB lines on both the north and south Memorial Ave approach to Bourke Rd.

Council officers also recommended the installation of No stopping zones on all approaches to the intersection with associated signs and line markets.

They also proposed relocating existing 2P parking on the eastern side of Memorial Ave by 17 metres south of Bourke Rd.

The existing concrete blisters, painted island and advisory intersection warning signs were to be removed.

The proposed signage and line marking would be advertised for public comment before implementation.

The local traffic committee discussed, at length, the implementation of the Stop and Give Way sign at the intersection and the confusion that may arise for motorists with these changes.

The history of the current conditions at this intersection were also raised.

It was agreed that traffic counts be undertaken at this intersection to determine if the crash statistics warrant the sign changes.

The cost of advertising can be accommodated in a recurrent budget.

If implemented the cost for the installation of required signage and line marking can be accommodated in existing recurrent budgets.

The traffic committee resolved and Gosford Council subsequently endorsed that the council officers' suggested changes to the intersection be deferred to allow research to be undertaken to identify the reasons for the existing intersection arrangements and to undertake traffic counts.

A further review of the proposal was to be brought back to the traffic committee.

Gosford Council agenda TR16.13, 10 May 2016