Traffic changes near Lithgow schools to improve safety for students and motorists
Transport for NSW (Transport) will implement a range of traffic changes in Lithgow to improve road safety and better support the community during the ongoing closure of Victoria Pass.
Transport has worked with representatives from Lithgow City Council, the Department of Education and local schools to develop plans to help the road network run more efficiently and limit the impact of higher traffic volumes being detoured through the town.
Transport for NSW Executive Director Damien Pfeiffer said a number of positive outcomes for the Lithgow community had come out of last week’s discussions, particularly for schools and vulnerable road users.
“We acknowledge the impact the closure of Victoria Pass is having on the Lithgow community and we appreciate the co-operation of council and local schools as we’ve investigated what changes could be made to help them,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“We have listened to the Lithgow community and one of the actions to improve safety has been the introduction of left-turn only in and out of Eskbank Street at the Mort Street intersection near Lithgow Public School.
“This will remove the need for drivers to negotiate several lanes of traffic and also school students on pedestrian crossings when turning right onto a very busy Mort Street.
“Now motorists wanting to turn right from Eskbank Street onto Mort Street – with the exception of buses – will need to travel down either Hill Street or Short Street onto Bridge Street and then they can turn safely right onto Mort Street at the traffic lights.
“We are making some initial changes now with temporary signage while site-specific LED signs are being developed.
“These changes will only impact a handful of drivers but make a big difference for safety. Previous traffic studies found fewer than 10 vehicles a day were making the right turn onto Mort Street during morning and afternoon peak periods.
“Crucially, none of the traffic changes planned near Lithgow schools will redirect traffic from state roads onto local roads.
“Safety and network efficiency are the key aims of these changes, but we are also conscious of the need to discourage motorists from putting increased pressure on local roads.”
Other traffic changes presented to council and school representatives that will be implemented include:
- Improved static signage and installation of new LED signage to improve pedestrian safety at three pedestrian crossings on Main Street and Mort Street, including outside Cooerwull Public School, Queen Elizabeth Park and Lithgow Public School.
- Some minor changes to car parking including new line-marking to encourage more efficient use of existing spaces. Transport continues to consult with impacted businesses
- No right turn from Mort Street into Hassan Street to maintain eastbound traffic flow, buses excepted.
- Extending the merge lanes on Mort Street either side of the Bridge Street traffic signals to improve traffic flow on the detour route.
All work has been prioritised to be implemented as soon as possible and Transport for NSW will continue to engage with the local community on changes.
Lithgow City Council Mayor Cassandra Coleman said she appreciated the ongoing partnership with Transport for NSW following the closure of Victoria Pass.
“Our residents are put at the heart of our decision-making process with our main focus being to determine solutions so that as little impact to Lithgow’s local road network are made possible,” Mayor Coleman said.
For the latest information on the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass, including detours and extra public transport service timetables, visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au/gwhvictoriapass.