The $9m road upgrade that will make traffic even worse

It cost ratepayers $8.9 million, has disrupted traffic for months, but will make afternoon commutes three seconds slower. Some westside residents wonder: what was the point?

Labor candidate for The Gap ward, Daniel Bevis, at Waterworks Rd where the bus indent has been removed.

Council’s decision to remove the indented bus stop in front of High Point Plaza on Waterworks Rd, Ashgrove, has sparked a social media storm.

The change is part of an $8.9 million project, announced in the May Budget, to upgrade a 315m-long section from Trout St to Beth Eden Tce to tackle chronic congestion.

Council has been spruiking the upgrade recently in flyers and on social media, but residents have questioned whether removing the indent negated the entire point of the roadworks — to speed up traffic flow.

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TransLink’s website says four bus services stop a combined 30 times during the 4-6pm weekday peak, outbound at stop 17 on Waterworks Rd.

Removing the indent therefore means one bus will be stopped in the T2 lane every four minutes in the afternoon peak.

A Council spokeswoman said the indent was removed for bus driver safety as it improved their sight lines.

She said the move would increase travel time by only three seconds.

The roadworks also included the addition of a second righthand turn from Stewart Rd into Waterworks Rd, which should ease congestion on Stewart Rd in the afternoons and on Saturday mornings.

Some residents suggested a far cheaper and easier alternative to the roadworks would have been to simply stop or limit parking along that section of Waterworks Rd, inbound.

Labor candidate for The Gap, Daniel Bevis, said the upgrade had caused daily headaches for commuters.

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“But those troubles are set to continue long after the project is finished, if the decision to remove the indented bus stop is not reversed,’’ Mr Bevis said.

“Anyone who drives Waterworks Rd during peak hour knows the frustration of sitting behind a bus as they pick-up and drop off passengers.”

“It’s not just Ashgrove locals who are feeling the effects. Commuters in St John’s Wood, The Gap and even out to Keperra, Upper Kedron and Ferny Grove are being held up.’’

He has started a petition on the issue at: www.danielbevis.com.au/busstop

The Council spokeswoman said the indent reduced bus drivers’ sight lines and made it difficult to see approaching traffic when exiting the indented bus stop, which had resulted in a number of near misses.

“While road modelling identified an average travel time increase of three seconds during the outbound afternoon peak, replacing the indented bus stop with an in-lane bus stop will improve sight lines and make it easier for bus drivers to manoeuvre into the traffic flow, significantly improving safety for all road users,’’ she said.

“Community consultation undertaken by Council in 2018 showed strong support from residents and businesses for retaining the on-street parking on the inbound side of Waterworks Rd.’’

But Resident Chris Green posted on Facebook: “The millions being spent at this intersection will do nothing to improve traffic flow.’’

Another resident, Michael Taylor, posted: “I lodged a complaint already. They said the line of sight for bus driver(s) with the pull-in (puts) the bus drivers in danger. Absolute bollocks.

“Buses have always had right of way. Also, the lane is so skinny that a bus cannot even fit without crossing the centre line into the right hand lane.’’

“Want to sort the problem and save money? Just remove the parking altogether in front of the shops.’’

Kevin Ryan posted: “Taking out the bus indent at High Point Plaza is a catastrophic mistake for peak hour traffic flow.

“(It is) being replaced with a garden. Makes total sense to me — not!

“Watch this space, this decision will be reversed in six months, I bet.’’

Vivianne Hallett Kay wrote: It takes at least three changes of the lights to get through Ashgrove most days, even off peak. It needs to be wider, not prettier.

“Buses just hold up the traffic, parked cars in the lane outside the shops hold up traffic.’’