Wangi Road and Dorrington Road, Rathmines

Safety improvements are underway at the intersection of Wangi Road and Dorrington Road, Rathmines.

This project has been jointly funded by the NSW and Federal governments under the Blackspot program.

Background

The Roads and Traffic Authority is improving road safety at the intersection of Wangi Road and Dorrington Road, Rathmines.

There have been 29 crashes at this intersection between July 2002 and June 2007, including two fatal and 16 injury crashes. A significant number of these crashes involved vehicles attempting to turn right out of Dorrington Road and being hit by vehicles travelling along Wangi Road.

In December 2008 the RTA issued a community update outlining proposed safety and traffic improvements to the intersection. Comments were invited on the proposal and in response to community feedback, the project has been revised.

Features of the safety improvements include:

• Removing the existing seagull intersection.
• Constructing a roundabout.
• Providing a continuous northbound slip-lane through the roundabout, so that traffic is slowed but not significantly delayed.
• Retaining all of the existing turning movements.
• Installing street lighting and advisory signage.

Benefits

Works at this intersection will provide:

• Improved safety for motorists – particularly vehicles turning right out of Dorrington Road.
• Reduced speeds on the approaches to and departures from the roundabout. This would also provide for a safer road environment to the north and south of the new roundabout.
• Retention of 80 km/h speed zone on Wangi Road outside of roundabout approaches/departures.
• Enhanced safety for cyclists.

During construction

Whilst the roundabout is being constructed, motorists travelling north on Wangi Road wanting to turn right onto Dorrington Road will be required to continue past the intersection and turn left into Wilton Road, turn around using a new U-turn bay to be built, turn right onto Wangi Road and continue south to turn left into Dorrington Road.

Construction staging

The right turn ban into Dorrington Road is only a temporary arrangement during construction.  All turning movements will be provided once the project is complete.

Traffic will be intermittently diverted on to either the northbound or the southbound lanes as required.

During construction the speed zone along Wangi Road and part of Dorrington Road will be 40km/h. A temporary 60km/h zone will also be implemented from north of Wilton Road to the start of the 40km/h road work zone during stages 1 and 2.

Motorists should obey the signs and directions to ensure the safety of workers and road users.  Speed zones at worksites are enforceable.

The RTA appreciates the patience of motorists and thanks them for their co-operation during this essential work.

For more information

For more information please contact the RTAs project manager, Shannon Drewe on (02) 49240 638, during business hours or at Shannon_Drewe@rta.nsw.gov.au.