Harbour Drive pedestrian crossing concerns after 12-year-old hit in Coffs

A pedestrian crossing reconstructed with Black Spot funding has been questioned following another incident on Harbour Drive.

A young boy was hit by a car on Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour on Tuesday August 3. The boy was walking across the pedestrian crossing near the Brelsford Park skate park when he was struck by a car travelling west.

Questions have been raised over the safety of a pedestrian crossing in Coffs Harbour after a young boy was hit by a car a fortnight ago.

There was a huge community reaction to the incident in which a 12-year-old boy was hit by a car travelling west as he walked over the crossing toward the skate park on Harbour Drive.

The crossing connects the Brelsford Park with Coles.

A number of concerns were raised about the safety of the crossing, particularly with regards to the black dividers that run along the median strip and whether traffic lights may have been a better solution.

A Coffs Harbour City Council spokeswoman addressed some of those concerns and said the crossing had been constructed in conjunction with NSW Roads and Maritime Services through a Black Spot Funding program.

That reconstruction took place in 2019 after the original crossing, situated closer to the Earl St roundabout, was itself the subject of safety concerns. 

A number of people raised concerns about the pedestrian crossing on Harbour Drive, particularly the fence that some say obscures views. Photo: Tim Jarrett / Coffs Coast Advocate

The spokeswoman said an independent safety audit was carried out to establish the best method to provide “optimum pedestrian safety” before the use of a crossing with fencing to “funnel pedestrians to the one crossing location” was chosen.

It’s the same method used on the Pacific Highway through much of the Coffs Harbour CBD.

“(The audit) would have considered the option of a pedestrian, light-controlled crossing,” the spokeswoman said.

“The crossing is also raised to slow traffic down at this point, lit and signposted – as per RMS requirements.”

One of the issues consistently brought up on The Coffs Coast Advocate’s Facebook page was the black fencing obscured drivers’ views when approaching the crossing.

“It’s very hard to see anyone from the Coles side entering the crossing until you are almost on it. We slow right down but not everyone does,” Maree Hood said.

“It’s a horrid crossing, the black railings make it hard to see anyone entering the crossing,” Jaki McDonald-Gordon said.

“That crossing is so stupid the black metal that runs along the centre island makes it very hard to see any one,” Tiah Little said.

“100 per cent agree. So hard to see until you are right on top if it – all very well if you are aware of it and slow down, but so many people don’t,” Janine Martin said.

In response to concerns, the council spokeswoman said the fencing used was “specially designed by the RMS to allow drivers to see through so that they are aware of pedestrians on the crossing”.