Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) has completed safety improvements on the New England Highway at East Maitland in response to the crash history at this location.

Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) installed concrete traffic islands within the median on the highway at the intersections of Banks Street, King Street, Victoria Street and Brunswick Street, to restrict right turn movements onto the highway and traffic movements across the highway.

This project was funded by the Federal Government under the Federal Nation Building Program as a National Blackspot Project.

Background

In the five year period from July 2003 to June 2007 there have been 60 crashes on the New England Highway at the five intersections being upgraded.  Thirty-one of the 60 crashes involved an injury crash.

Features

The features of the safety improvements include:

• Installation of concrete medians at the four intersections to prevent crossing the highway and turning right on to the highway.
• Installation of mast arms at the traffic signals at the intersection of the New England Highway and High street to improve the visibility of the traffic signals at this intersection. The mast arms were installed in both directions on the New England Highway.
• Retention of the right turn movements into Banks Street, King Street, Victoria Street and Brunswick Street.
• Installation of a 'no stopping' area between William Street and the pedestrian signals near Edgeworth Street.
• Extension of the 'no stopping' areas on the northern side of Banks Street and Victoria Street near the highway, to allow adequate path for turning vehicles.

These changes are designed to improve safety for motorists by restricting movements across the busy highway and by motorists using nearby intersection with traffic signals.

Work commenced in May 2010 and was completed in July 2010.

Further information

For further information contact the project manager  on (02) 49240 260
Email: Ken_Saxby@rta.nsw.gov.au