Construction of the new traffic lights at the Burns Bay Road/Tambourine Bay Road/Coxs Lane intersection has reached the stage where the traffic lights and traffic signs are being installed. Today (Monday 21st June 2021), two No Right Turn signs were installed, catching residents by surprise.
The Lane Cove Council recently posted on their website the following reasons for the removal of the roundabout and the installation of the traffic lights.
“In 2016 Council initiated consultation on the Lane Cove Village Traffic Management Plan which included the propose to signalise the Burns Bay Road/ Tambourine Bay Road/ Sutherland Street intersection to provide the following benefits:
- Improved traffic flow as the signal will run by SCATS (an adaptive urban traffic management system that synchronises traffic signals to optimise traffic flow across a whole city, region or corridor. SCATS responds automatically to fluctuations in traffic flow through the use of vehicle detectors);
- Improved pedestrian connectivity; and
- Improved cyclist safety.
It was noted in the post-consultation report in 2017 that the proposed traffic lights at Burns Bay Road/ Coxs Lane/ Tambourine Bay Road intersection will improve the traffic flow within the Village and as well as pedestrian safety. Council regularly receives complaints on near misses at this roundabout as pedestrians have to negotiate traffic in many directions.
In addition to the local community, Council’s Age-Friendly Advisory Committee has strongly supported the signalisation of this intersection due to the fact that there is no designated refuge island to cross Burns Bay Road and Coxs Lane at this intersection. Feedback from Council’s Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan adopted in 2018 notes resident concerns that pedestrian safety needed to be improved at this intersection.”
There is no doubt that the existing roundabout is not pedestrian-friendly for people walking to and from the Lane Cove Village.
No Right Turn Tambourine Bay Bay Road into Burns Bay Road
If a driver is travelling along Tambourine Bay Road from Riverview or Lane Cove West they are not permitted to turn into Burns Bay Road and must continue through the Traffic Lights and turn right at the Finlayson/Coxs Lane roundabout.
This will mean Coxs Lane will have an increase in traffic, and pedestrians will need to be careful when crossing the road at the Finlayson/Coxs Lane roundabout.
After reviewing the Lane Cove Council’s reports on the proposed traffic lights, it is pretty obvious that they did not intend to have right turn restrictions, and they were hoping that the lights would channel more traffic via Coxs Lane. The idea was to spread the traffic flow between this intersection and the Coxs Lane/Finlayson Street roundabout creating less traffic near the Lane Cove Post Office. The paper suggesting the traffic signals presented to Lane Cove Council in September 2016 stated:
“Once completed, through traffic can be expected to choose Coxs Lane rather than travelling through the Village, thus improving the distribution of traffic at the proposed roundabout at Rosenthal Avenue/ Finlayson Street, which will be constructed as part of the Rosenthal car park development. Diverting the traffic away from the village will also be beneficial to the additional pedestrian activity in the village.”
No Right Turn Into Coxs Lane from Burns Bay Road.
This no right-hand turn will create issues for delivery drivers who service the Lane Cove Village shops and restaurants.
Many of these drivers use the loading docks in the shared zone in The Canopy. You must turn left when you exit the Canopy (into Rosenthal Avenue near The Unwind Bar). If the driver then wants to head toward the CBD or North Sydney, they must turn right into a street locate on Burns Bay Road and wind their way back to Finlayson Street. This will create more traffic in the local streets.
It’s doubtful that the driver would continue down Burns Bay Road, turn right at the IGA Agora, turn right into Centennial Avenue and then turn right into Epping Road to head towards the city.
How Will Traffic Flow Be Impacted?
The Department of Transport believes their SCATS programme helps with improving traffic flow. One ITC follower wrote to the Department of Transport to complain about the traffic congestion on Burns Bay Road/Penrose Street/Centennial Avenue, and they were told the SCATS system helps traffic flow. Read about SCATS here.
Consultation
Lane Cove residents are asking why they were not consulted on the no right-hand turn decision. The Lane Cove Council put forward the plan to install traffic lights at this intersection; however, the detailed design had to be submitted to Transport for NSW for approval. ITC understand that Transport for NSW was not willing to install right hand turning arrows at this intersection.
Initial consultation for the removal of the roundabout and the installation of the traffic lights took place in March and early April 2017. ITC was reviewing the background to the traffic lights decision and had a wry chuckle when we noticed that ITC comments in the Lane Cove Council Public Meeting Forum in May 2017 were noted as including:
“Expressing concern with respect to the way the communication for public consultation of the Lane Cove Village Traffic Management Plan was handled and the timing of the consultation.”
The consultation was undertaken during the Easter Period and School Holiday Vacations in 2017 and only residents near the traffic light location were sent letters asking for comment.
The Lane Cove Council Agenda Papers for the May 2017 meeting note the following:
“Proposal 1 – Signalisation of Burns Bay Rd/ Coxs Ln/ Tambourine Bay Rd Intersection
Council has received 265 responses where the majority of the respondents supported this proposal, as shown in Figure 2.
The most common comments are provided below:-
- Traffic lights must be installed on the grounds of pedestrian safety;
- Upgrade the roundabout, e.g. improve signage, line marking, a zebra crossing at Coxs Ln approach;
- Traffic lights will eliminate parking and may increase congestion in the area; and
- Access to the child-care centre should be away from the proposed lights, in a safe position.
Recommendation
The proposed traffic lights at Burns Bay Road/ Coxs Lane/ Tambourine Bay Road intersection will improve the traffic flow within the Village and as well as pedestrian safety. Council regularly receives complaints on near misses at this roundabout as pedestrians have to negotiate traffic in many directions. In addition to the local community, Council’s Age-Friendly Advisory Committee has strongly supported the signalisation of this intersection due to the fact that there is no designated refuge island to cross Burns Bay Road and Coxs Lane at this intersection.
As the majority of the respondents supported the proposed traffic lights, the proposal is recommended for approval. The project will result in the loss of five (5) street trees and some kerbside parking spaces due to the minimum 20m statutory ‘No Stopping’ zones at traffic lights.
Traffic lights installation will also require minor land acquisition at two locations (61 & 65 Burns Bay Road), followed by the submission of detailed design to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) for approval. Council has approached the affected land owners and obtained verbal agreement to commence the negotiation process. As land acquisition is a lengthy process, Council will need to commence the land acquisition process as soon as practicable.”
Fig 2
The question is, should Lane Cove Council have gone back to the community for further consultation when Transport for NSW told them that the intersection would have two no right-hand turn restrictions?
How Do I Raise My Concerns about the No Right Hand Turn Restrictions?
If you disagree with the no right-hand turn restrictions, you can contact our local member, The Hon Anthony Roberts and ask him to raise this matter with the Minister for Transport – [email protected]
You can also contact the Minister for Transport here.
Background
Lane Cove Council considered a proposal for redirecting through traffic around the Lane Cove Village on 19 September 2016. Lane Cove Council agreed in principle for the construction of a Lane Cove Village By-Pass. Lane Cove Council’s plans were put on display for community consultation.
In May 2017, Lane Cove Council resolved to implement the following traffic changes:
- The signalisation of Burns Bay Road/ Tambourine Bay Road/ Coxs Lane proceed, and Council undertake the detailed design, including for submission to the RMS for approval;
- The necessary land for the signalisation of Burns Bay Road/ Tambourine Bay Road/ Coxs Lane be acquired;
- The full closure of Sutherland Street at Coxs Lane intersection proceed, and Council undertake the detailed design for submission to the RMS for approval;
- Three months after the implementation of Parts 1 and 3 above, Council undertake a survey of traffic flow in Graham Street to determine if parking should be restricted to one side of Graham Street;
- Indented parking bays be constructed, and parking be restricted to one side of Coxs Lane between Finlayson and Sutherland Streets, to coincide with the opening of the new Rosenthal Avenue Car Park;
- The land located at the north-eastern corner of Coxs Lane/ Finlayson Street (17-21 Finlayson Street) to facilitate the indented parking bays be acquired;
- Subject to an appropriate design being developed, a roundabout be constructed on the corner of Finlayson Street and Coxs Lane;
- Parking be restricted on both sides of Finlayson Street between Rosenthal Avenue and Coxs Lane, to coincide with the opening of the new Rosenthal Avenue Car Park;
- Council work with the RMS to signalise the intersection of Epping Road/ Coxs Lane to facilitate a right hand turn onto Epping Road; and
- Participants in the consultation and affected residents be notified of the Council’s decision.
Lane Cove Residents were asked to comment on a discussion paper – click here for link
The Council resolved to install the lights at its May 2017 meeting. Read more here.
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