ROADS and Maritime Services has given the ‘‘green light’’ for traffic signal changes at the deadly intersection outside Kogarah station.
To overcome confusion among motorists, a right-turn arrow will be provided for traffic turning from Railway Parade North into Railway Parade.
The right turn from Montgomery Street into Regent Street may be banned.
Two similar tragedies occurred within seven years next to the intersection, although neither was blamed on the traffic signals.
Schoolgirl Aneri Patel and fashion design student Emma Hansen were both killed by cars mounting the footpath.
The proposed changes followed talks between Roads and Maritime Services and Kogarah Council after the latest fatality, which occurred in September last year.
A council spokeswoman said providing a dedicated right-turn movement from Railway Parade North into Railway Parade would ‘‘remove any ambiguity for drivers’’.
‘‘RMS has advised that funding will be provided [this] financial year,’’ she said.
The plans were also detailed in a letter to a business owner, which was passed on to Kogarah Chamber of Commerce.
RMS said the intersection was under the care and responsibility of the council.
‘‘However, as a result of the recent tragic incidents, Roads and Maritime Services have been working with the council to improve safety at the intersection,’’ the letter said.
‘‘[RMS] has allocated funding for improvements to the traffic lights at this intersection and for other road safety measures in the Kogarah Town centre, including the installation of fencing and vehicle deflecting kerbing in Railway Parade.’’
The letter ‘‘noted that, while the fatalities at the bus stop in Railway parade are tragic, neither was the result of vehicles turning right at the intersection or collisions with other vehicles’’.
A woman who pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm, following the death of Aneri Patel, is due to be sentenced on October 1.
SIGNALS NEEDED
Kogarah Chamber of Commerce president Megan Barker called for the signals upgrade after last year’s fatal accident.
‘‘It is such a bad intersection,’’ she said.
‘‘To have it fixed will be a bonus.’’
Another business owner, Roger Bergin said he could not understand why right-turn arrows were not added in June this year when RMS replaced the lanterns (red, green and amber lights) and fittings.
A spokeswoman for RMS said extra signals would involve more extensive work to poles and electrical cables.
Do you think the right turn arrow at the intersection is a good idea?
