Details: Bruxner Highway upgrades proposed at Molesworth St intersection instead of Dawson St

The proposal involves upgrading the intersection from a roundabout to traffic lights to improve traffic flow and provide safe pedestrian crossing points.

NSW MP Janelle Saffin said the NSW Government had made “significant changes” to its pledge to fix traffic congestion and improve safety on the Bruxner Highway in Lismore.

The move will deliver downtown Lismore’s second set of traffic lights.

The member for Lismore said the pledge was made in February 2019, ahead of the last NSW election.

Ms Saffin said people remember the election commitment to spend $6 million on traffic lights and improvements to the Bruxner Highway-Dawson Street intersection.

“Transport for NSW and Lismore City Council have carried out investigations and traffic modelling, and now the Transport recommendation is that this upgrade should occur at the Bruxner Highway-Molesworth Street intersection,” Ms Saffin said.

“I have been in a continued conversation with NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole’s office and Transport for NSW on this issue, and while it’s good that there is finally some movement, we, as a community of stakeholders, still need to be persuaded.

“All those residents living on the southern side of the highway, in the Girards Hill area, were very keen on the Dawson Street project, so they have to be convinced that Molesworth Street will provide the best long-term solution.”

According to Transport for NSW documents, the technical assessments found that upgrading the Ballina Road/Dawson Street intersection “would not improve current delay and travel times, while the safety investigations found the Dawson Street intersection had the least crash history between Wyrallah Road and Hollingsworth Creek Bridge.”

“Based on these investigations and the level of funding currently available, installing traffic signals at Molesworth Street intersection is considered the best short term solution to ease congestion and improve local access, connectivity and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole invited the local community to have their say on the proposed safety improvements for the intersection.

“About 25,000 motorists pass through this intersection every day so the proposed improvements will improve travel times, local access and efficiency,” Mr Toole said.

“The proposal involves upgrading the intersection from a roundabout to traffic lights to improve traffic flow and provide safe pedestrian crossing points.”

Member of the Legislative Council Ben Franklin said safety improvements are needed along this stretch of the Bruxner Highway, with 72 crashes over a 10 year period.

“The proposed design also includes building dedicated turning lanes, adding ‘storage’ lanes for vehicles waiting to turn at the intersections, and improving pedestrian facilities along the adjacent highway,” Mr Franklin said.

“While some carparking spaces will need to be removed on the northern side of the highway, this will improve traffic in the area and avoid any impact to Heritage Park.”

Community members and stakeholders are encouraged to send their submissions on the proposed improvements by completing the online survey at yoursay.transport.nsw.gov.au/molesworth, via email to [e-mail] or by post to Molesworth Street Upgrade Project Team, Transport for NSW, PO Box 576, Grafton NSW 2460 by Friday July 30.

For further information about the proposal, including a design layout, go to https://nswroads.work/molesworthstreet