State Government concept plan for traffic lights at Brighton Road/Edwards Street intersection, South Brighton
Calls from the local council and the community – including a nearly 4000-signature petition – for traffic lights at a dangerous junction are being heard.
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The Transport Department is developing a plan for traffic lights at a dangerous South Brighton intersection, following calls from the community.
DPTI chief executive Tony Braxton-Smith has written to Holdfast Bay Council to say a “concept” for lights at the junction of Brighton Road and Edwards Street was being developed.
He expected this, and a cost for the signals, to be completed by September.
“Installation of signals is currently unfunded and will need to be considered by Government as part of its normal budget process future funding submission on a statewide basis,” Mr Braxton-Smith wrote.
“Such projects are prioritised to ensure funds are allocated to the projects where the greatest benefit can be provided to the community as a whole.”
The response follows a letter from council staff, asking for a review of traffic management on Brighton Rd, between Sturt and Seacombe roads.
Holdfast Bay councillors Annette Bradshaw and Clare Lindop and Brighton Foodland owner Tim Rugless have been lobbying for the traffic signals.
They said motorists wanting to turn right from Edwards Street to travel south along Brighton Road often became impatient and took a risk.
Some frustrated at the wait opted to turn left and do a U-turn, causing traffic to build up.
They said the completion of a redevelopment of the Foodland and Brighton Central Shopping Centre in 2018 had exacerbated traffic issues in the area.
Mr Braxton-Smith wrote that a traffic report was submitted to DPTI in 2016 as part of the development approval for the shopping centre upgrade.
Following its opening, surveys of traffic volumes and queues were conducted in February and November, 2018.
“These surveys showed that the junction was performing better than indicated by the traffic modelling provided by the developer …” Mr Braxton-Smith said.
“Whilst the operating performance of the junction was assessed as satisfactory, the Department acknowledges the function of Edwards Street within the local road network and the community’s desire to have traffic signals installed.”
Cr Bradshaw said motorists often avoided Edwards Street and headed to Jetty Road, Brighton to do a right-hand turn with lights, which could have skewed the survey results.
“I’m grateful to see that (DPTI) is doing a concept for traffic signals for the junction,” Cr Bradshaw said.
Cr Lindop recently handed a petition, with nearly 4000 signatures, that she had collected with Cr Bradshaw calling on the State Government to install traffic lights to Gibson MP Corey Wingard.
“It’s exciting and a step in the right direction,” Cr Lindop said of the concept plan.