Eastern Shore Sun

By INGRID HARRISON

EASTERN Shore commuters are questioning the State Government’s priorities in seeking to ease peak hour congestion on major roads.

While the Government has hailed works to reduce morning peak hour queuing of up to 400 metres on the Lindisfarne approach to the Tasman Bridge, its planned solution at the Mornington Roundabout, where traffic often banks up for more than a kilometre, is seen as second-rate, and it is offering nothing at all for the Tasman Highway which at times sees vehicles stretching back from Rosny to Mornington.

And while work is already underway at Rose Bay, it is yet to even announce a firm start date for a less than adequate solution at the Mornington Roundabout.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Resources, Steven Kons, said that the work on the Lindisfarne approach to the Tasman Bridge involved widening the East Derwent Highway southbound approach to the traffic signals on the western side.

“At times during the morning peak period the queue for the traffic signals at the Tasman Bridge extends back past the Ronnie Street traffic signals in the right-hand lane of the East Derwent Highway,” Mr Kons said.

“The extension of the right lane at the approach to the bridge will reduce congestion by providing extra capacity and also about 80 metres more space for vehicles queuing at the signals.”

The $150,000 project, which is expected to take four weeks to complete, will also involve the relocation of a number of street lights and the reconstruction of about 100 metres of kerb and channel.

In a media release issued to Eastern Shore Sun the Minister announced that planning was underway for upgrades to the Mornington Roundabout to improve traffic flow in the area both in the immediate and longer term.

“We will be focusing on increasing the capacity of the roundabout and in particular on addressing the queues and delays that occur on the South Arm Highway in the morning peak period and on the Cambridge Road West in the afternoon peak period.”

Eastern Shore Sun understands that the Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources has discounted installing traffic lights at the roundabout and instead will add a slip road and dedicated turn lanes.

With morning traffic on the South Arm Highway forced to give way to vehicles travelling west off Cambridge Road, this is unlikely to provide much relief. Traffic coming from the ever-expanding Mornington Industrial Estate further compounds the difficulty.

However, Clarence City Council Mayor, Jock Campbell said he was confident that the proposed works would be a sensible solution and the morning and afternoon queues at the roundabout had been a concern for council and the community for some time.

Mr Kons said that the department would work closely with the council to address pedestrian issues. Work is anticipated to commence later this year.

The public will be informed about the proposed works through public displays and by letterboxing all residents in the immediate area.

Eastern Shore Sun urges the public, particularly those commuters who use the roundabout during peak times, to have their say on the proposal when it is made public and push for a workable solution.

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