‘Someone will die’: Urgent call to upgrade Pagewood intersection
MP and residents are warning someone will die if there continues to be delays on safety improvements to a horror intersection.
Southern Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Someone will die if plans to install traffic lights at a dangerous intersection continue to be delayed.
That is the view of Kingsford Smith federal Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite regarding a horror intersection in Pagewood which is becoming increasingly busy.
Bayside Council has been working jointly with developers to fund a large road project along Wentworth Ave to ease congestion and improve safety at an estimated cost of $17 million.
The works include traffic lights being installed at the dangerous intersection of Baker St and Wentworth Ave.
Mr Thistlethwaite said motorists had been waiting too long for the intersection to be upgraded, adding that it is now a serious safety issue.
“Trucks are pulling out of Baker St and colliding with other vehicles on Wentworth Ave,” he said.
“Locals have had enough. They’ve seen just how dangerous this intersection can be.
“Someone will die if safety is not improved at this intersection.”
Initial plans to improve safety at the intersection date back to 2013.
In March of this year, the council decided to write to the State Government asking for help to fund the $17 million project, which had a shortfall in funds of $6.5 million.
However, Transport for NSW has made it clear the council will have to work with developer contributions to complete the project.
Plans have since stalled to begin the project.
Resident Dicran Amirian, who has lived near the intersection for more than 40 years, said it was lucky no-one had died at the intersection over the years.
“I don’t know if anyone has died but I know there has been a lot of injuries and cars smashed,” he said. “We need traffic lights.”
He said during peak hours Wentworth Ave was backed up in both directions.
“The traffic is so intense that they queue up and won’t let anyone go through the intersection (at Baker St).”
Kellogg’s has a large office facing the intersection and the company has also written to the council asking for urgent action to be taken to improve safety there.
The intersection is located near an industrial area and also not far from Pagewood Public School.
The proposed $17 million project will also include an upgrade to the intersection of Page St and Wentworth Ave and new cycleways.
A Bayside Council spokeswoman said there were no firm timelines around when the project would begin.
“We are not in a position to provide firm timelines as council is dependent on RMS approvals and the need to also solve the budget shortfall of $6.5 million,” she said.
“The main source of funding will be from the Voluntary Planning Agreement between Bayside Council and Meriton Development and the Section 94A Development Contribution Plan 2016. “This however is insufficient to fund the construction of both intersections.”
While Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) maintain and operate traffic lights, councils can install them themselves with approval.
IN OTHER NEWS
