Old Pitt Town Road, Terry Road intersection: Calls for action after crash
There has been another pile-up at an intersection just weeks after a young mum involved in a similar crash warned urgent action was needed.
Hills Shire
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UPDATE
Another serious multi-vehicle crash has occurred at a dangerous intersection at Box Hill prompting renewed calls for urgent upgrades.
Emergency services were called to a collision between a van and a car at the intersection of Old Pitt Town Rd, Terry Rd and Fontana Dr, just before 6pm on Thursday.
Three people including a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s were treated for hand and elbow injuries, according to a NSW Ambulance spokesman. They did not require transport to the hospital.
Evana Geering, who started a petition calling for urgent upgrades at the same intersection earlier this year, said she was lost for words after hearing about the most recent crash.
"I don't even know what to say anymore. Whatever they (Council) do, they need to find a way to do it faster."
Local mother Natasha Karamanis, of The Gables, was involved in another serious crash at the same intersection in July.
Ms Karamanis said she was triggered when she passed the intersection and saw the aftermath.
"The cars were extremely damaged," Ms Karamanis said.
"I just saw a red car with its whole side crashed in...lots of ambulances there. Can only assume it was similar (to my crash)."
A Hills Shire Council spokeswoman previously said the intersection was located in an area undergoing a major transformation from rural to residential.
"This means more people are moving into the area and using local roads which were primarily built to handle smaller rural traffic,” a Council spokeswoman said.
"To help with the increased volume of people using these local roads, this intersection was identified by Council for an upgrade.
"Council is in the process of completing the detailed design, which includes the installation of traffic signals, and seeking necessary approvals.
"While this is happening, Council has installed the largest available stop signage and made additional line markings to make this intersection safer for all road users. VMS signs have also been placed along these roads to alert drivers to ‘slow down’ when approaching the intersection.
"Council has also sought to temporarily reduce the speed limit until the traffic signals are provided, but this request has been refused."
The instalment of traffic lights at the intersection has recently been nominated by Council as one of several projects requiring urgent infrastructure funding as part of the NSW government's Accelerated Infrastructure Fund Scheme.
EARLIER
BY NICOLE PIERRE ON JULY 7, 2021
Residents and crash victims are calling for council to upgrade a dangerous intersection in Sydney’s north after a string of serious crashes.
An online petition calling for an urgent upgrade at Old Pitt Town Road and Terry Road in Box Hill has attracted almost 2000 signatures.
“Recent severe accidents have proven that the intersection is still posing a serious risk to the community,” the petition reads.
It claims the intersection is “dangerous” because of a an “overlap” between the right hand turning lanes from Old Pitt Town Road into Fontana Drive and Old Pitt Town Road into Terry Road.
The petition also states that visibility and speed are reasons for concern.
With the opening of nearby school Sancta Sophia later this year, residents also expressed their concern over more motorists in the area particularly those “unfamiliar” with the intersection.
Evana Geering said she made the petition last week after she was frustrated over news of another serious crash last week.
“I thought to myself that if someone is killed there I will regret not trying,” she said.
“It just doesn’t sit well with me that we are about to add parents with children attempting to get to school on time, together with large construction trucks trying to navigate this intersection together.
“It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Ms Geering said while possible traffic lights were in the planning stages, she said it could still take a considerable amount of time for approvals from Transport for NSW.
She called for urgent upgrades to be accelerated and for council to consider other road safety measures in the interim such as a roundabout.
“If I could say anything to the mayor, I’d say please don’t wait for a tragedy to take action.”
“You are allowing a rural area to be developed into residential area with zero upgrades to the road network to keep the community safe,” she said.
Natasha Karamanis, of the Gables, was hospitalised after she was involved in a “pretty bad” crash last Thursday at the same intersection.
The mother-of-four said she was driving on Old Pitt Town Road after finishing work at about 5.45pm.
As she entered the intersection intending to go straight down Old Pitt Town Road towards Rouse Hill, her blue Toyota Corolla collided with a white SUV which was turning right on Terry Road.
“Before I knew it we hit. I didn’t see her.
“I think she didn’t see me because of all the cars turning right.
“It was lucky because I was doing 60 (in a 70km/h zone). I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if I was doing the speed limit.”
Ms Karamanis was taken to hospital with concussion and required scans for her chest, stomach and leg injuries.
While she was released from hospital on Monday with bruises she said she is still “traumatised” from the crash.
“I am staying with my sister because I’m still very foggy.
“It took me this to realise what a dangerous intersection it is.”
Ms Karamanis said she has frequented the intersection several times but said it was “particularly busy” that night which made it dangerous.
“With the bank up of cars on opposite sites, you can’t see people going straight,” she said.
She believes that an increase in housing developments has resulted in “higher traffic volumes” at the intersection.
A Hills Shire Council spokeswoman said it is working with Transport for NSW to upgrade the intersection at Old Pitt Town Road, Terry Road and Fontana Drive in Box Hill.
“Council anticipates the detailed design to be completed in August 2021, and this design includes plans for the installation of traffic signals,” the spokeswoman said.
“Transport for NSW will then need to approve this design ahead of Council preparing the site for construction, which includes land acquisitions and utility relocations.”
She added: “In the meantime, Council continues to make safety improvements at this intersection and this includes additional line markings, enlarging stop signage and advocating for a reduction in speed limit from 70 kms to 60 kms.”
“Council thanks road users and residents for their patience and urges people to follow the speed limits, observe signage and be aware of the driving conditions.”
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