Solution found for “dangerous” intersection outside Dernancourt shopping centre

FOR years shoppers have persisted with a nightmare exit at a suburban shopping centre – waiting in traffic up to 15 minutes just to leave it – but it seems a solution has finally been found. Here’s what it is.

Shoppers have told how they’ve had to wait in traffic 15 minutes, just to exit this shopping centre.

A “CIRCUIT-BREAKER deal” has been found to stop drivers waiting up to 15 minutes to exit Dernancourt Shopping Centre safely.

Tea Tree Gully Council director Thornton Harfield told a meeting last Tuesday night he was confident of a successful agreement between the council, State Government and centre management.

The council has committed $20,000 to upgrading a “storage area” in the median island, allowing cars to wait safely in the middle of the road while turning right on to Lower North East Rd.

It is hoping for a three-way funding agreement.

The council says centre management has agreed verbally to improvements which do not include new traffic lights. The State Government has not committed funding yet.

Cr Robin Coleman said a solution had to be found before another fatality occurred at the “dangerous” intersection.

A 13-year-old Dernancourt boy was knocked off his bike by a car while crossing Lower North East Rd outside the centre in 2000.

“Drivers have to sit and wait, and have to get across two lanes of traffic,” he said.

“(Transport Minister) Stephen Mullighan took ages to get out one day he visited.

“It’s too dangerous, drivers can’t handle it.

“Centre staff refuse to use it, they go out the back way.

“I’m determined to get things done before somebody dies.

“I have a track record of getting things done, I’ve spent a year and a half on this.”

Government data shows there have been three reported casualty crashes at the site since 2011.

Cr Sandy Keane said traffic lights had to be installed.

“Something has to be done,” she said.

“We need traffic lights. I don’t understand why it doesn’t have lights, when it’s a bigger shopping centre than Campbelltown Shopping Centre. It’s smaller and it has lights.”

A 2015 survey presented to council revealed that customers were experiencing “significant delays” turning right, creating congestion in the car park.

Member for Morialta John Gardner said the survey of 457 residents found three-quarters of respondents turn right when exiting the centre.

Several respondents said they waited for up to 15 minutes to leave turning right, while more than half of respondents wanted traffic lights installed.

Colliers International, who manage the centre, did not respond to questions from Leader Weekly before deadline.