Haberfield crossing a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’, residents call for action

A crossing in Haberfield has left residents concerned with three cars this year colliding with the island’s barriers. They’re calling for action to prevent a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’.

Haberfield residents are concerned that a two-stage island crossing at the intersection of Waratah St and the City-West Link Rd is a ‘tragedy waiting to happen’ and are calling on Transport for NSW to act.

The crossing on City-West Link Rd – a busy traffic link in the WestConnex corridor – connects family-heavy Haberfield and Dobroyd Point Public School with popular Timbrell Park and the bay run.

“It’s a tragedy waiting to happen and that’s what I’ve been telling anyone who will listen,” James Leech, a resident of Haberfield, said.

With a pedestrian fatally injured in nearby Ashfield earlier this week, road safety has again come under the spotlight.

Kids take the crossing daily en route to school and often have to meander around cars on the road. Picture: Supplied

The Waratah St crossing is a two-stage type: people must wait in the island for the second green light as cars speed past. The island itself is tiny and struggles to hold large groups during the rush hours.

Three cars have already hit the railings on the crossing. Glass, plastic and the remnants of a mirror from the most recent collision on February 28 were still littered around the spot in mid-March.

“It’s a sign you’ve got a problem at this crossing and it’s not safe for pedestrians,” Mr Leech said.

The concerned local said attempts to raise concerns with both WestConnex and Transport for NSW would often draw blanks.

“When you phone WestConnex you give them the location and they’ll often say: ‘no, that’s not part of the project’,” he said.

“You have this void of information.”

Initial plans for the crossing involved a pedestrian bridge, but this appears to have been shelved.

“One of the options would be a single phase, the whole flow of traffic stops and it gives people time to make it over without stopping,” Mr Leech said.

“WestConnex told me that a single green light would take too much time out of the traffic flow.

“But I tend to think someone’s life is more important than people losing a couple of minutes on their journey to work.”

Mr Leech’s son was knocked off his bike by a turning driver further down the road.

Although Transport for NSW said the barriers do meet standards, Mr Leech – having seen them crumpled and damaged – questions whether they could protect a pedestrian and it took about three weeks for the most recent damage to the barriers to be fixed.

It can be a nervous wait on the traffic island, and there is a sense within the community it’s only a matter of time before another car collides, but this time with fatal consequences.

Tim Stephens – a resident of Haberfield and a Labor councillor on the Inner West Council – explained the concern.

“I know it very well as I used to ride across that route quite frequently,” he said

“The first time I did it with the new arrangements it really struck me as an accident waiting to happen.”

Cr Stephens took a motion – unanimously approved – to Council earlier this year calling on Transport for NSW to look at the crossing and shift it to a single-stage crossing.

“Our view and that of residents is they’re prioritising the profitability of WestConnex over the safety of pedestrians,” he said.

“Why can’t they just go and adjust the lights tomorrow? Making it a single-stage crossing and bringing the traffic to a stop to allow people to safely cross.

“It’s a tragedy waiting to happen and if we get to the point where we say ‘we told you so’, that’s going to be no consolation to someone seriously injured or killed.”

A spokesman for Transport for NSW said the department would listen to concerns.

“Transport for NSW is aware of the community’s safety concerns at this location and we are working quickly to find the best outcome,” he said.

“The pedestrian fence installed on the median island meets approved standards, however we will consider all measures to improve the safety of pedestrians.”

The Department didn’t respond to questions about the proposed pedestrian footbridge and the possibility of changing the crossing to a single green light.