I refer to the article “Lights ruled out” (Leader, March 21).
Sutherland Shire Council states “A mid-block signalled pedestrian crossing was also found to have a number of disadvantages”.
I should like to know what are the disadvantages, because I can only see benefits.
The main one is that of safety of pedestrians and the prevention of an accident, that may be fatal, which fortunately hasn’t occurred up to now.
The council required an overhead bridge pedestrian crossing, about two hundred metres from the roundabout.
In my opinion it benefits mostly commuters using the bus service; and most residents of Woodlands Drive their cars to Menai Market Place.
There needs to be a safe crossing for the pedestrian flow at a point where two important commercial complexes, Menai Market Place and Menai Central are accessed on foot.
I fail to see how a pedestrian refuge can provide that safety; and I believe that the safety of pedestrians should be a priority.
On the basis of the traffic survey conducted by Sutherland Shire Council I believe a mid-block signalled pedestrian crossing is the best pedestrian safety option.
It would only operate when needed, wouldn’t affect vehicular traffic flow considerably, and above all prevent accidents.
Marc de Cazanove
It seems council’s proposal, which I note is to be ‘‘further scoped costed and listed for inclusion in a future Traffic and Transport Works Program’’ (so don’t hold your breath), is to provide a pedestrian refuge on what is already a wide median strip used by pedestrians.
To turn it into a refuge does not address the real problem which is the danger in getting to that refuge in the first place.
There are already two overhead pedestrian bridges on Menai Road. This site is far busier than those and therefore a bridge would seem to be a suitable solution that would not disrupt traffic and will save lives.
Sometime ago I suggested council put a roundabout at the intersection of Old Illawarra Road and Oriana Drive Illawong to ease congestion at school times.
This was rejected as there had been only one crash at that site. However some months later a student was hit by a car.
Suddenly councilors and politicians came out of the woodwork and installed traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, paths and fences.
Seems it takes a serious accident for council to respond with a serious solution.
Hope this is not repeated and council will move before the event not after.
Kevin Thurecht, Illawong