RMS review proposes changes to deadly intersection in Hornsby

CHANGES will most likely be made at a deadly intersection in Hornsby following a safety review.

Flowers left on a pole at the intersection of Bridge Road and Peats Ferry Road in Hornsby following the death of an 81-year-old pedestrian in May.

CHANGES will most likely be made at a deadly intersection in Hornsby following a safety review.

Two pedestrians have been killed at the intersection of Peats Ferry and Bridge roads since December.

An 81-year-old man was hit and killed by a bus in May and a 16-year-old boy was fatally struck by a truck in December, while crossing the road in his wheelchair.

The RMS has been reviewing the intersection and has submitted a nomination to the State Government’s Safer Roads Program to carry out work for improved pedestrian safety.

Potential changes include a longer red light for northbound traffic turning into Bridge Rd.

The potential changes include making traffic heading north in Peats Ferry Rd wait a little longer at the lights before turning right into Bridge Rd, where pedestrians now only have five seconds to cross before the lights change and drivers can turn across their path.

“Following the review carried out at the intersection … Roads and Maritime Services is considering a number of options to improve pedestrian safety,” a RMS spokesman said.

“These improvements may include implementing a red right-turn phase at the intersection for motorists travelling northbound along Peats Ferry Rd.”

A time frame is yet to be confirmed around when those changes could be made.

A resident says any safety improvements were “good news” at the crossings.

Hornsby resident Jeevanjot Singh, who lives a couple of doors down from the intersection, welcomed improved safety measures.

“It’s good news,’’ he said.

“My wife and a lot of people use that intersection.”

He said he often saw families walk past his home and use the crossing.

However, another Hornsby resident, Helen, who did not want her surname published, said pedestrians needed to be more responsible.

Emergency services at the scene of the pedestrian fatality in December.

“I walk across (that intersection) nearly every day and never have any problems,” she said.

“Pedestrians need to be more alert.”

The Advocate recently spent time at the intersection investigating whether any obvious improvements could be made.

The investigation found some changes would reduce confusion and improve safety for pedestrians including by delaying the red light for traffic turning into Bridge Rd.

Meanwhile, police have finished an investigation into the first fatality in December with no charges made against the driver.

The second incident, in May, is still being investigated.