COOROY RAG NEWSPAPER Community
Phone: 5442 6699
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Email: editorial@cooroyrag.com.au
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www.cooroyrag.com.au
2017 + 2018
POMONA QLD
PH: 5485 2200 January 30, 2019
FREE
Stop, Go, or just don’t know? Have your say Cooroy Area Residents Association and Cooroy Chamber of Commerce are holding a meeting in the Cooroy Memorial Hall, Maple Street, Tuesday, 5 February at 6:00pm where Ballot papers will be available to have your say on your preffered option to help congestion and safety at Cooroy’s two busiest intersections - Elm & Diamond Streets and Elm & Myall Streets. For over a decade, Chamber has been lobbying for solutions for the Diamond & Elm Street and Myall & Elm Street intersections in Cooroy. These intersections are dangerous and result in regular accidents which are increasing with the growing population and tourist visitation. The significant amount of lobbying by Chamber and the community has resulted in a major step forward with the Department of Transport and Main Roads identifying preferred options for future improvements to these two intersections to improve safety and active transport facilities and relieve congestion. Marty Hunt MP, Sandy Bolton MP, and Mayor Tony Wellington have agreed to talk about: • The feedback they have received to date • The political reality of state government road upgrades • Information on the traffic volumes of these intersections • Cost differentials • Short-term and long-term solutions All the options will be put on the table: • Traffic lights • Roundabouts • Retain existing situation • New rail line crossing TMR are seeking community feedback on the preferred planning options to install signals to control movements through the intersections. The Elm and Diamond Streets preferred option has the following features: • Two right turn lanes from Elm Street into Diamond Street. • Maintains access for all traffic including ‘B-Double’ trucks. • Controlled crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists. • Right turns into Cedar Street and Diamond Lane are redirected to a U-turn facility at the traffic signals for safety reasons, these movements would also need to be redirected if a roundabout was introduced. • Caters for forecast traffic growth well into the future. The Elm and Myall Streets preferred option has the following features: • Existing traffic lanes are maintained and fully controlled by signals. • Maintains access for all traffic including ‘B-Double’ trucks. • Controlled crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists. • Caters for forecast traffic growth well into the future. Both intersections will be dealt with individually, so differing solutions for the different intersections is a possibility. The objective is to achieve a consensus decision from the meeting once all cases have been put. TMR have extended the submission date to 18 February 2019, so the outcome of the meeting will be reported to them by that date. The preferred options address significant community concerns about the safety and efficiency of the existing intersections. The intersections currently experience queuing during peak times. Benefits of the preferred options include: Traffic movements are fully controlled, reducing the likelihood of motorists misjudging gaps in traffic; more even distribution of traffic; reduced congestion; improved travel time reliability; improved active transport facilities; traffic signals can be accommodated within existing road reserve. There is currently no funding allocated to complete detailed planning or construction of the project. This work will be considered in the future, after assessment of competing priorities and depending on funding availability. Indications are that is likely to be approximately 4 years. TMR welcome feedback about the proposed future intersection upgrades. Have your say on this proposal and email feedback to northcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au or send a letter to: Cooroy intersection improvements, Department of Transport and Main Roads, North Coast District, Reply Paid 86152, SUNSHINE PLAZA Qld 4558.