Girraween Rd speed limit reduced to 70km/h to address rural Black Spot at Hillier Rd

MOTORISTS will now have to slow down on a popular strip of Girraween Road after Litchfield Council reduced the speed limit from 80km/h to 70km/h

RURAL motorists have to slow down on a popular strip of Girraween Road after Litchfield Council reduced the speed limit from 80km/h to 70km/h to create a safer passage through their northern suburbs.

The council made the decision at their last council meeting, with the speed limit change affecting a 2.5km stretch of Girraween Road, from where the council takes control of maintenance at the western end, to the intersection with Azure Court.

MORE NT STORIES

Alleged car thief caught when he abandoned his vehicle after being tracked by helicopter

The Year that Was: Entertainment hit new, unexpected highs in the Northern Territory last year

Westin Hotel site reopens to the public with no sign of $200 million project restarting

The council report into the change said it was made because “there was a relatively narrow verge with several properties’ accesses, where there had been serious accidents, narrow culverts and drainage restraints limiting the areas where drivers could get off the road.

“There are also a number of intersections without turning lanes.

Motorists will now have to slow down on a popular strip of Girraween Road after Litchfield Council reduced the speed limit from 80km/h to 70km/h. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“The high volume of traffic in peak periods and road safety audits that identified clear concerns were other reasons given for the change, with the reduction in speed seen as the best way to reduce the likelihood of collisions and decrease the number of accidents.”

In the council report, Infrastructure and Assets manager Phil Joyce said the intersection of Girraween Road with Hillier Road had been an identified accident black spot for a several years with many road crashes causing injury to people requiring admission to hospital.

“Road crash data identified that this area of Girraween Road has a high prevalence of motor vehicle collisions with speed identified as a key contributing factor.”

The council received Black Spot funding from the NT government, who identified the Hillier and Girraween intersection as a black spot.

NT NEWS sizzling new deal: Get all your news for just $5 a month

Litchfield has also widened the road at the intersection to incorporate a right turning lane from Girraween Road into Hillier Road and installed guard rails around in the road reserve, following Road Safety Audit recommendations

A report will be prepared for council later this year to review the speed change.