IAIN Barker feels he is beating his head against a brick wall in trying to get something done about the traffic along Universal Street, Mortdale.
Many of his neighbours feel the same way.
Mr Barker lives on the corner of Universal Street and Boundary Road and gets traffic from both.
"We get speeding vehicles and people running traffic lights every day," he said.
"It's a rat-run, with people trying to beat the lights — it's become worse over the years, especially after Woolworths opened in Roberts Avenue."
He said there was overwhelming concern for the children who used a nearby park, and a growing fear someone would be killed.
Mr Barker said that about a year ago he had written to the Leader, liaised with Hurstville Council, police and MPs complaining about the hoons on Boundary Road and Universal Street after his vehicle was damaged by a speeding car, and there have been several accidents since.
"What do we have to do to get some action? Traffic flow measures were promised.
"How many times have we heard about the problems around Woolworths in Roberts Avenue?" (Roberts Avenue runs on to Universal Street.)
"Maybe fixing the problem here would ease congestion there.
"As for a roundabout outside the supermarket, why didn't the council specify this in the planning stage? It would have been easier and cheaper then."
Mr Barker said a speed camera or a roundabout at the intersection of Boundary Road and Universal Street or speed humps would help.
And perhaps more policing of roads in general.
‘‘When is the council, the local MPs and the local area command going to take some responsibility?’’ he said.
‘‘Stop passing the buck and fix it soon.’’
A Transport NSW spokeswoman said Boundary Road was a regional road under the care and control of Roads and Maritime Services and that Universal Street was a local road under the care of the council.
‘‘The NSW Centre for Road Safety regularly monitors community attitudes to road safety issues to identify and address the needs and concerns of road users and develop effective road safety initiatives,’’ she said.
And the Safer Roads website – saferroadsnsw.com.au – was launched in 2012 to provide the community with input in suggesting where speed cameras should be.
She said crash statistics within 10 metres of Boundary Road and Universal Street over a five year period — from January 2009 to December 2013 — showed there were 15 crashes resulting in nine people being injured.
‘‘In prioritising intersections for review for a red-light speed camera, the Centre for Road Safety considers the crash history and type of crashes at a location alongside all signalised intersections in NSW,’’ the spokeswoman said.
‘‘This helps ensure that intersections that need enforcement most are prioritised.
‘‘This location has a moderate crash history and has not been a high priority.
‘‘Before a red-light speed camera is installed, the site
is reviewed.
‘‘The Centre for Road Safety will request that the RMS reviews this location for alternative treatments before it is considered for a red-light speed camera.’’
ROADS STUDY
A Hurstville Council spokesperson said the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) was responsible for all signalised intersections including Boundary Road and Universal Street.
‘‘In relation to Roberts Avenue, the council engaged an independent consultant to undertake a traffic count in the area before and after the new supermarket was opened,’’ she said.
‘‘The results revealed there is only a slight increase of traffic (about 4 per cent) and a decrease in speed (about 10 per cent) in this vicinity.
‘‘At the traffic committee meeting on February 5, 2015, it was resolved to obtain detailed designs and estimates for various traffic measures at the supermarket including either a right-hand turn bay, a roundabout, or investigation into whether traffic lights are warranted.’’
The council was due to consider these recommendations at its February 18 meeting.
Do you think Universal Street is a dangerous traffic area?
