After detailed traffic investigations, two options were considered:
- Converting one existing lane on Broadway into a right turn lane into the precinct.
- Maintaining all of the current lanes on Broadway, and creating a new lane by narrowing the footpath on the northern side of Broadway (near the University of Technology Sydney).
Option one is not feasible due to the impact on traffic flow of losing one Broadway lane.
Option two was chosen because it would help to maintain traffic flow on Broadway, and also help to keep further traffic off surrounding residential streets.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
The road and intersection upgrade will involve:
- Widening the northern side of Broadway (between Abercrombie and Balfour streets) to create a new right turn lane into Balfour Street (citybound). This will be done by narrowing the footpath on the northern side of Broadway from 4.5 metres to approximately 3.6 metres.
- The footpath narrowing will require six street trees to be removed. The University of Technology Sydney will be replanting trees before the footpath work is completed.
- Moving the existing median to make way for the new right turn lane.
- The new right turn lane into Balfour Street also allows the creation of a new right turn lane into Wattle Street from Broadway (westbound).
- Jones Street will be permanently closed at Broadway, meaning traffic will no longer be able to pass between Jones Street and Broadway. The current footpath will be extended across the former intersection.
- The traffic signals currently at Jones Street will be removed, and new traffic signals will be installed at the Balfour Street intersection.
Work is scheduled to commence on Monday 14 November 2011 and will take approximately four months to complete, weather permitting.
BENEFITS
This Broadway road and intersection upgrade will provide access to the new precinct while minimising traffic delays on Broadway and avoiding extra traffic on surrounding residential streets.
