Image: Supplied.
The installation of traffic lights at the Barton Highway/Gundaroo Drive/William Slim Drive intersection has made the former roundabout safer, with new figures showing a dramatic fall in the number of accidents.
Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said the total number of crashes at the intersection had almost halved since the completion in April last year of the intersection’s $10 million upgrade, which was fully funded by the Australian Government under the Roads to Recovery Program.
Up to 46,000 vehicles travel through the Barton Highway intersection each day.
Ms Fitzharris said that between January and December 2017 a total of 47 accidents were reported at the intersection compared with an average of about 100 accidents per year from 2012-2015 prior to the works.
“The upgrade has delivered a big improvement for motorist’s safety and since the traffic lights became operational in December 2016 there have been no complaints regarding delays or queuing at the intersection,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“While the introduction of traffic lights to an intersection with a roundabout configuration took a while for motorists to get used to, the arrangement has significantly improved travel through the intersection, particularly for Crace residents.”
As well as traffic lights, the upgrade included an additional lane on all four of its approaches and through the intersection. The traffic signals have been coordinated to control traffic flows through the intersection and to balance the changing demands throughout the day.
The intersection improvements also provided on-road improvements for cyclists passing through the intersection on three approaches to the intersection. Cyclists approaching the intersection on the Barton Highway from the west have been taking advantage of the new shared-path bridge.
The improvements also included a bus priority lane through the roundabout in the east/west direction linking the Gungahlin and Belconnen town centres.
The Minister said the intersection’s performance would continue to be assessed during 2018 including crash data and travel patterns.
“The range of roadworks across the Gungahlin district impact the travel patterns of drivers through the network, so full appreciation of the impact and effectiveness of the intersection improvements will not be clear until these works are completed,” Ms Fitzharris said.
Have you used the Barton Highway intersection since its upgrade? What has your experience been? Let us know by commenting below.
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