Safety improvements at Harpers Hill

Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) is proposing $4.5 million of safety improvements on the New England Highway at Harpers Hill funded under the NSW Government's Road Toll Response Package. This proposal is in response to the crashes that have occurred at this location.

Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) is proposing to install a median safety barrier along the New England Highway, between St Helena Close and the bottom of the cutting to the north of Oswald Lane to prevent head on crashes; as well as upgrades to Allandale Road and Oswald Lane intersections to improve safety for turning motorists. These initial design suggestions followed discussions with some local residents nearest the intersection.

Background

In the five year period between July 2004 and June 2009 there were twenty one crashes between St Helena Close and the bottom of the cutting west of Oswald Lane, including eighteen injury crashes. This includes seven intersection crashes at Allandale Road, two head on crashes and eight loss of control crashes.

Features

The features of the proposed safety improvements include:

• Providing a seagull intersection at Allandale Road, with continuous right turn out/acceleration lane. This would reduce the number of northbound lanes through the intersection to one and provide a separate lane for right turning traffic to merge in, rather than picking a gap in southbound traffic.
• Providing U-turn bays at Allandale Road and St Helena Close, so that motorists prevented from making a turn into properties by the median wire rope barrier would have a place to safely make a u-turn.
• Providing a left turn deceleration lane into Oswald Lane and Allandale Road, so that left turning traffic could decelerate away from through traffic.
• Providing a central median safety barrier for most of the length from St Helena Close to north of Oswald Lane, to prevent head on crashes.

Consultation

Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) me with residents in November 2010 to discuss these safety improvements.  This feedback influenced the design which was released for comment in January 2011.

Comments were sought by February 2011. All feedback with be carefully considered.  Feedback from local residents has already improved teh design.

What happens next?

Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) started widening the Kaludah Creek culvert in February 2011, to allow for an acceleration lane out of Allandale Road.  Work is expected to completed in June 2011, weather permitting.