[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”77844″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Dr Peter Gangemi – Mayor of The Hills Shire Council[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
I wanted to give residents an update on the upcoming traffic lights at Terry Road, Fontana Drive and Old Pitt Town Road in Box Hill.
This intersection will feature traffic lights, and it is an outcome Council, myself and many in the community have been fighting for since 2017.
I have lived in Box Hill almost my whole life and travel through this intersection often so I certainly understand how important it is for residents to see traffic lights as soon as possible.
Council and the then developer Celestino wanted lights at this intersection before it was being built in 2017 but the state agency Transport for NSW refused this, saying it didn’t meet the warrants required for lights. Over the next few years, Council tried numerous applications to get the warrants for traffic lights, and TfNSW again said no each time. TfNSW only approved the warrants for traffic lights last year, after our many submissions together with the accident history were finally heeded, enabling the design work to further progress. The final design approvals for the intersection have been given by TfNSW.
Council cannot be sure what land it needs to acquire until the design process is well underway, or complete, and the installation of lights requires one last land acquisition before works can proceed. Land acquisition processes can be lengthy, and this one is currently part of a compulsory acquisition process. Once the Local Government Minister signs off to approve the compulsory acquisition process, Council can call for tenders to construct the lights after the designated Proposed Acquisition Notice period has elapsed.
In terms of temporary measures until the intersection is constructed, the last few years Council has added numerous features, such as making this a stop sign controlled intersection at Terry and Fontana, installing additional oversize advance warning signs, VMS boards and updating and strengthening the line marking.
Speed limits are also controlled by TfNSW, so Council have also advocated to TfNSW in the past to reduce the speed limits on Old Pitt Town Road to 60km/h within 500m on both approaches to the intersection. While we believe this would have assisted with safety, this request was declined.
Following recent accidents, I called for a meeting with staff to see if there was anything that can be further done prior to construction of the lights occurring. Following this meeting, Council will shortly be installing the red ‘degadur’ markings approaching the intersection from Terry Road and Fontana Drive. Council will also be installing additional warning signage and surveillance cameras. We have also asked The Hills Police Area Command to consider conducting more Highway Patrols in this area.
Residents can be assured that, as we have since 2017, Council is doing everything we can to ensure the installation of lights as soon as possible.
In the meantime, can I please ask residents to drive safely through this intersection and please drive to the conditions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
