The location of a footbridge over Princes Highway at Kirrawee has been confirmed despite some people saying it will be in the wrong place.
Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) said the bridge would be installed at the intersection of Bath Road, adjacent to The Prince hotel, rather than at Oak Road, next to the South Village development.
The location was the subject of letters to the Leader.
One resident wrote: “The main source of pedestrians crossing the highway is from people heading home from Kirrawee station, along Oak road and then across the Princes highway pedestrian lights and to their home in the surrounding residential area.
“To utilise the bridge, they would have to walk approximately 500 metres, cross Bath Road, a busy, unpredictable and dangerous crossing, to access the ‘Bridge’ entrance.
“The same would apply when exiting the bridge, making a risky crossing across Bath road and walking 500 metres to Kirrawee station or to the Southside Village complex entrance.
“People and children crossing busy Bath Road face a potentially fatal danger.
“It is illogical and, in my opinion, silly to locate the bridge’ so far from its main source of pedestrians.”
RMS said, in a report on community consultation over the project, construction was expected to start in September, with the majority of visible activities to be seen in 2019.
Miranda MP Eleni Petinos said in a statement work would start in October, with the main structure to be constructed offsite and lifted into place on established foundations.
The RMS report said feedback was received from 130 people, with 77 people supporting the proposal, 35 opposed and 18 people not stating a preference.
The suitability of the Bath Road intersection had been one of the key matters raised.
RMS said Bath Road was identified as the most appropriate site following a detailed business case and independent feasibility study, as well as two independent reviews.
“The independent feasibility study found that a pedestrian bridge would provide an important link across the Princes Highway between residential areas to the south and commercial properties to the north,” the report said.
“Six locations were looked at within this stretch of road, including the Oak Road intersection.
“The location at Bath Road was identified as the best location across all criteria.”
The report said the site was chosen and examined against multiple criteria including:
- The distance from existing crossing facilities at Oak Road and Waratah Street.
- Sensitivities to the built, natural and heritage environment.
- Connectivity to the active transport network (cycling and walking).
- Impacts to traffic.
- Land acquisition requirements.
- Safety.
“As part of the nearby RMS road widening project at Acacia Road, Oak Road, Kingsway and President Avenue, we are upgrading the existing Oak Road intersection,” the report said.
“This work will introduce a fourth pedestrian crossing at Oak Road so that pedestrians can cross in all directions, as well as pedestrian refuges in the median to facilitate safer crossing.”
The report said, as part of the feedback, the question was asked whether any developers were involved in choosing the Bath Road location?
”No developers were involved in the selection of this location,” the report said.
The report said other key maters raised included line of sight and visibility impacts for pedestrians and motorists, pedestrian safety on Bath Road, clearance for heavy vehicles and tree removal.
Responses included:
- A road safety audit and multiple safety in design workshops would lead to impacts to motorist and pedestrian visibility being minimised.
- The bridge would have clearance of 6.1 metres, which was sufficient for heavy vehicles.
- The bridge would have a solid roof and would be fully enclosed at the sides with mesh.
- There was sufficient space for the stairs to be placed on the southern side of Bath Road – “The images in the interactive online portal are an artist’s impression only”.
“We have considered these issues in preparing this consultation report. Based on the feedback received and the objectives of the Kirrawee Pedestrian Bridge, we have decided to proceed with the proposal unchanged,” the report said.
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