Green lights for Ocean Beach Rd

Gosford Council has decided to install traffic lights at the corner of Ocean Beach and McMasters Rds, Woy Woy.

Lights will also be installed at the corner of Dunban Rd as funding becomes available.

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said he could not believe council was doing this.

"I'm gob smacked," he said.

"Within 200 metres, we are going to have two sets of lights and a crossing.

"It's going to be a nightmare at peak hour," said Mr Wales.

"They should put the lights at the (South Woy Woy) school crossing and get rid of the speed camera, and put the roundabouts at McMasters Rd and Dunban Ave," Mr Wales said.

"And we desperately need traffic facilities at Lone Pine Ave, where we've had a death recorded and the worst traffic history on Ocean Beach Rd and yet we get nothing there."

A supplementary report at council's meeting of June 6 advised of the outcome of the consideration of the intersection treatments at the local traffic committee meeting of June 5.

The report stated that a further investigation into the merits of traffic signals at the intersections of McMasters Rd and Dunban Rd with Ocean Beach Rd had been undertaken by Transport and Traffic Planning Associates (TTPA), along with further traffic counts, and traffic signals have been determined to be the most appropriate treatment at the intersections of Dunban Rd and McMasters Rd with Ocean Beach Rd.

The vehicle and pedestrian counts, included future projections.

TTPA stated: "It is apparent that traffic control measures will be required at these intersections to provide for both existing and future traffic circumstances".

Councils report stated that traffic signals were considered safer for pedestrians and cyclists while providing greater flexibility for controlling traffic flow on the Dunban Rd, McMasters Rd route and a greater level of capacity for traffic growth.

The council was told that funding was only available to provide signals at the Ocean Beach Rd, McMasters Rd intersection at this stage.

Linemarking proposals associated with the Ocean Beach Road Traffic Management Study and the proposed roundabout at the Ocean Beach Rd, Wellington St intersection were discussed at the meeting and the committee was advised that these works were about to proceed.

It was also resolved that consideration be given to modifying the Ocean beach Rd, McMasters Rd design so that bus priority markings can be incorporated into the intersection design.

The council also decided to approach the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) about traffic signals at McMasters Rd, Blackwall Rd intersection as a result of the proposed upgrade of the Ocean Beach Rd, McMasters Rd intersection.

Cr Chris Holsten, chairman of the traffic committee, said: "Along this road, traffic movements can average between 7500 and 20,000 on any given day.

"This is fairly significant."

Cr Holstein said that in light of the information received, and following lengthy discussions in traffic committee meetings, lights were seen as the best option.

Lyle Stone, June 6, 8 Council agenda CIT.34, June 6