Calls to fix Lansdowne St Merrylands, near Woodville Rd

Road rage happens ‘daily’, burnouts are common, hoons use it as a rat run and children are forbidden from playing outside. Find out how western Sydney residents want to stop the ‘24-hour nightmare’ on their street.

Rob Luck at Lansdowne St, near Woodville Rd, which is a traffic black spot.

Merrylands residents finally want action to tackle the traffic nightmare on their former “little patch of paradise” that has been overrun by leadfoot “hoons” and drivers using it as a rat run from the arterial Woodville Rd.

Rob Luck has lobbied Cumberland Council and Transport for NSW to curb the chaos at Lansdowne St since 2018 when he moved to Merrylands with his family.

The Lansdowne Street Residents’ Action Group spokesman addressed the recent council meeting and requested traffic calming devices before a fatality occurred.

He said the crux of the problem stemmed from no-right turns permitted from southbound Woodville Rd traffic into Baker, Bertha, and Claremont streets, and Patten Ave.

However, that puts more pressure on Lansdowne St where traffic is funnelled.

A bank up of traffic leaving Lansdowne St on to Woodville Rd, while other vehicles cause congestion to turn into the residential ‘rat run’.

Mr Luck said hit-and-run drivers recently struck rubbish bins and five cars lining Lansdowne St, where residents were now forced to park their cars on their front lawns.

“Today that little patch of paradise has become a living 24-hour nightmare and it’s more like Max Max revisited,’’ Mr Luck said.

“Traffic has increased exponentially and the street is now a well established rat run providing unlimited access between Woodville Rd and Railway Terrace in both directions for all kinds of traffic.

“Road rage is a daily event – rubbish is strewn everywhere and burnouts are common. The fact is, Lansdowne St Merrylands has become a virtual war zone for the residents.’’

He said concrete trucks and trailers flouted the signposted three-tonne limit, while many drivers slammed their foot on the accelerator.

“Speeds of 70 to 100km an hour are now commonly recorded accompanied by open exhaust 24/7,’’ Mr Luck said.

“Speeding cars frequently run off the road, mow down traffic islands and signs, crash into driveways, front yards and cars and new council signs installed in February were taken out …’’

Rob Luck has lobbied for a no-right turn.

He said trucks break the rules and often use Lansdowne St.

The problem is predicted to escalate when the massive redevelopment of the John Cootes site on Woodville Rd is complete.

Mum-of-two Saba Tee won’t let her seven and 13-year-old daughters play outside of their Lansdowne St house.

“The street’s crazy with the cars,’’ she said.

She saw a Mercedes driver “flying like crazy” recently and “was hoping he’d get pulled over’’.

Mr Luck ideally wants Transport for NSW to block traffic into Lansdowne St from Woodville Rd where he has suggested a no-right turn. He wants the council to consider speed humps every 50m on his street.

Some neighbours do not support scrapping the right-turn but want traffic lights.

Another solution Mr Luck offered would be for the council to turn the street into a cul-de-sac.

He addressed the council again last week.

“If traffic and speed controls are not installed we risk the death of a pedestrian or disabled person or a child,’’ he said.

The council’s traffic committee will review the matter in June and residents will be notified of any action to seek feedback before implementation.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said it would review traffic performance at the intersection.

Originally published as Calls to fix Lansdowne St Merrylands, near Woodville Rd