Torquay traffic lights finally confirmed for Bristol Rd after year-long delay

What started as a simple traffic light project in 2021 has become a five-year saga plaguing a busy Torquay road.

Roadworks at the intersection of Surf Coast Highway and Bristol Rd have been at a standstill for more than a year. Picture: Alison Wynd

After more than a year of delays, barricades and stalled roadworks, traffic lights will finally be installed at the Bristol Rd-Surf Coast Highway intersection – in mid 2026.

Works at the Torquay intersection will restart in February 2026, following more than a year of service-related delays.

An EG Ampol employee, Dean, said the barriers and roadworks had been set up for about two years, with not much going on at the site.

“It is right on our corner, it’s impacted us heaps,” he said.

Franci Bartakovic, who lives on the corner of Bristol Rd and Surf Coast Highway, said the whole thing had taken too long.

“I have to walk the whole way around to get to church on the other side of the road,” she said.

“It’s been nearly two years.”

“And there are still too many cars here, we need a wider road.”

Traffic light designs for the troublesome intersection began as early as 2021.

In 2024, while preparing to install the traffic lights, workers reportedly discovered underground services, that needed to be moved – delaying the work.

Since then, barricades and signage have remained at the site, without the roadworks.

Intersection works were earmarked to restart in April 2025 and be finished by 2026 “without any more unexpected interruptions”, but were again stalled.

Ms Bartakovic said the internet had gone out for just one evening when workers first discovered the underground NBN services were in the way of the works.

Nearby Boston Rd resident Peter said it would be a “relief” to finally get the long-awaited traffic lights.

He said more and more traffic was using Boston Rd because of the barricades, but the smaller side street was not even wide enough for two cars to drive down.

“It means you’re constantly pulling over,” he said.

“It just makes it slow.”

Peter said a lot of people walked across the road where the roadworks currently were to get to and from the St. Teresa’s Catholic Church on Surf Coast Highway.

“I look forward to it being safer for them,” he said.

Surf Coast Shire general manager of placemaking and environment Chris Pike said the Shire had to redesign the traffic light layout and move assets.

“While these delays have been frustrating for everyone, the discovery of unexpected underground services meant we had to pause construction,” Mr Pike said.

“We’re pleased NBN has now confirmed their works will be completed by the end of November, meaning we can now plan the remaining works.

“We apologise for the unexpected delays and thank the community for their patience as we work to deliver a safe, more efficient intersection.”

The Shire said once the NBN work was finished, work would begin again on the new left-turn lane into Bristol Rd, and traffic lights and public lighting would be installed.

Works are expected to take two months and will begin in February to avoid the peak Christmas season.

The traffic lights are expected to be operational within the first half of 2026.

Originally published as Torquay traffic lights finally confirmed for Bristol Rd after year-long delay