Residents ask “life threatening intersection” to be made safe

Residents raised concerns about a “life threatening” corner on the Bruxner Hwy, now authorities are promising to help.

DANGER CORNER: Residents have expressed their concerns about the safety of the intersection of Bruxner Hwy and Lindendale Rd, Wollongbar, and have said it is time Ballina Shire Council took their concerns seriously.

After a serious vehicle crash on the Bruxner Hwy on Monday, Northern Rivers residents have called on a local council, politicians and Transport for NSW to fix an intersection which they claim was jepordizing the safety of thousands of motorists who use the road each day.

The corner of Lindendale and Bruxner Hwy has long been an area of concern for local residents, including Peter Ball and Grace Donaldson, who said the community was sick and tired of a lack of action from all levels of politics.

But on Tuesday, Ballina Shire Council, Minister Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole and Ballina MP Tamara Smith, funding and plans to improve the intersection’s safety have been announced.

Mr Toole said the NSW Government was aware of community concerns about the safety of this intersection.

“That is why more than $31,000 was provided to Ballina Shire Council in February to carry out safety improvements at this intersection, with works scheduled to commence in June 2021.,” he said.

“Improvements at this intersection will include building a concrete central median and improving line markings.

“Transport for NSW will also work with council to identify, plan and deliver long-term upgrades at this intersection.”

Ballina Shire Council’s director Civil Services, John Truman

said: “Ballina Shire Council has received approval and $31,207 in funding from Transport for NSW for safety improvements at the Lindendale Road intersection,” Mr Truman said.

“Improvements will include relocating the hold lines to improve sight distance and the installation of a centre median on Lindendale Road to better control turning movements.”

Mr Truman said council will work with the state government to make the area safer.

“Transport for NSW is responsible for managing the Bruxner Highway, while council has responsibility for Lindendale Road.

“As a longer term solution to safety issues, Ballina Shire Council is encouraging the NSW Government to start planning for an upgrade of the Bruxner Highway from the western end of the Alstonville Bypass to Goonellabah.

“Any investment in a major upgrade of the intersection will need to be consistent with strategic planning for the corridor and could be several years away.

“Council expects to start work on the intersection improvements in June 2021.”

Ballina MP Tamara Smith said she first raised safety concerns about the intersection in October 2020, “when I was contacted by a constituent concerned about safety issues with the intersection since its upgrade, including near misses at the corner of Lindendale Road and Bruxner Highway”.

“I have continued to raise this issue in meetings with both Ballina Shire Council and Transport for NSW,” Ms Smith said.

“I am meeting with Anna Zycki Director, Region North Regional and Outer Metro Division Transport for NSW, next week where I will again raise the concerns of my constituents.

“This will include a petition from a survey conducted of 136 residents in the Ballina electorate about ongoing safety concerns.”

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said, “funding was provided to Ballina Shire Council in February this year to carry out safety improvements at the intersection of Bruxner Highway and Lindendale Road.

“Work will include building a central median in Lindendale Road and associated line marking at the intersection.

“Ballina Council has confirmed work on the intersection is due to start in early June 2021.

“Transport for NSW will continue to monitor safety performance along the Bruxner Highway and prioritise any potential upgrades.”

Lindendale resident and business owner, Grace Donaldson said she was “relieved Ballina Shire Council are finally taking action and showing their responsibility towards the community”.

“A school bus which services the local community uses this intersection twice a day,” she said.,

“So $31,207 is a small amount to spend for people’s safety and our community has been campaigning for a solution for several years.”

Ms Donaldson said a survey of more than 130 residents showed 90.44 per cent considered the intersection to be “life threatening”.

Yesterday Mr Ball said people parking at a Shell service station near the intersection made it difficult for drivers on the Bruxner Hwy and Lindendale Rd to see if the road was clear,

“Ballina Shire Council don’t seem to want to accept they have jurisdiction on the matter,” he said.

“If the service station is interfering with sight lines on the Bruxner Hwy and this council approved their DA, then they do have a role.

“But they just brush off any responsibility to the state government.”

Mr Ball said residents concerns were highlighted after emergency services were called to a serious crash outside the service station at the intersection shortly before 1pm on Monday.

While police said their investigation, which included a review of service station CCTV, showed the crash was caused by a driver leaving the business, Mr Bell said people deserve to have safer roads.