Why highway Bruxner Highway upgrade in Lismore won’t be done where the government promised it

A possible upgrade of the Bruxner Highway at Dawson Street in Lismore to reduce congestion and improve safety will instead focus on highway’s Molesworth Street intersection using traffic signals.

A possible upgrade of the Bruxner Highway at Dawson Street in Lismore to reduce congestion and improve safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists will instead focus on highway’s Molesworth Street intersection using traffic signals.

The project is currently on public exhibition.

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

According to Transport for NSW documents, the main benefit of this design compared to other options considered was the minimum impact on Lismore’s Heritage Park.

“(This design) includes no impacts to Heritage Park, maintaining the existing fence between Heritage Park and the road, the removal of fewer car parks and reduced costs due to avoiding the retaining wall on the bridge,” NSW Government documents explained.

“The project team recognises the importance of Heritage Park to the community and has modified the concept design to avoid any impact to the new post and rail fence and footpath between Heritage Park and the road.

“Signalising this intersection improves traffic efficiency and provides safety benefits to pedestrians, as well as the advantage of providing gaps in westbound highway traffic, which should help to improve the efficiency of the Union Street roundabout.”

A map of the proposed safety improvements for the Bruxner Highway intersection with Molesworth Street at Lismore, drafted to ease congestion, reduce travel times, ensure safety for pedestrians and cyclists and complement future planning for the Bruxner Highway through Lismore.

Northern Rivers residents were divided on their comments regarding the project on social media.

Crystal Lenane – “Wyrallah road and Bruxner would be better! Lots of congestion and long wait times at that intersection in morning and afternoon peak and definitely needed for pedestrian safety.”

Renee Brown – “They won’t listen to the drivers who use it every day they will just do what will cost the most so they continue to waste or taxpayers money.”

Wendy Johnson — “Traffic lights for all those who just don’t seem to know the rules of roundabouts.”

Michelle Hartnett — “ I would have thought the Wyrallah Rd roundabout would have been a better option for traffic lights. It’s got to be the more dangerous of the lot. People don’t slow down and congestion along with impatient drivers makes it even worse.”

Many readers were against the idea of more roundabouts in the city.

Voilet Coulter — “Roundabouts are fantastic to keep the flow of traffic, but we have so much growth and sculptures on the roundabouts that it’s impossible to see what’s coming onto the roundabout! And so many are unaware of how the roundabout works. So I would say traffic lights.”

Katrina Maree — “Traffic lights, as not many people in Lismore know how to use roundabouts and Lismore council fill the centre of them and you can’t see a anything.”

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.