Not only is East-West connectivity not addressed in the North-South Corridor reference design, it has been exacerbated.
I trust you have read my two blog posts yesterday. The first, “public scrutiny is invited”. The second,” influence the design”. More to the point I trust you will take up my invitation and take advantage of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport seeking your input.
In yesterday’s blog, and in previous blogs, I have documented where they have not yet heard us. Two major concerns need to be addressed. Concerns the next phase of public consultation provides the opportunity to reinforce.
Concerns identified in my blog post “Black Forest has been saved”. If you agree with me, please reinforce this in your submission/s to the DIT project team. Please help me to help you.
Recent observations on my part since writing that blog, will I suggest, exacerbate the concerns I have expressed. The design has changed in ways that require further consideration.
The first is east-west connectivity. An area that is vital to the health and well-being of the community. Our residents, our businesses and community groups.
The second major concern is traffic disruption during construction.
The changes may be subtle but are impactful.
First up the footbridge over South Road appears even longer than two previous versions I have sighted. This, in my view, extends the chances of this option not being used as a connection between Glandore children and the School.
Another is the abolition (at this stage) of right-hand turns into South Road from Anzac Highway. This takes away the opportunity to access and the benefit of the pickup-drop off bay in front of the school.
Reading a more detailed plan demonstrates that Addison Road will not be accessible for entry from South Road. Addison Road residents will be pleased to know this. Not so, others identified in that blog. I speak of Byron Road and of East Avenue, Clarence Park, extending the impact further.
I have now learnt that the construction time frame for constructing the northern portal of the southern tunnel will be 5 years, not the 2 years I was imagining.
The disruption to traffic extends exponentially and, therefore, becomes an even greater challenge. They (DIT) apparently are planning to promote South Road traffic remaining on South Road during construction and not entering the local traffic network.
I need convincing that this will be the case. I am sure you will too.
Hi Don, Considering that the traffic on East Ave increased a lot during the Gallipoli development and has never gone back to what it was, I can only see it getting worse. We need to get the speed limit on East Ave changed as it is on Leah so that (a) people can cross the road more safely than they can now and (b) so that noise and pollution are lessened and (c) to discourage the drive through traffic, which is how this local street is being used now.
In my regular experience of crossing the road in the evening at peak traffic, many drivers are aggressive and would knock you over rather than let you cross, even though it makes no difference to them. It’s awful and we should stop it getting worse. Even at the railway where there is a safe haven for pedestrians crossing, the drivers never have any courtesy for pedestrians. I muttered to myself as I finally got to cross one day ‘Thank God’ and one of the teenagers trying to cross from the other side said the same thing at the same time.
But please PLEASE don’t say pedestrians need a tunnel or an overpass or something. We need a world where pedestrians count and are more important than cars, not less. We need a world where car drivers are courteous to pedestrians. A world which is walking friendly, as Unley is trying to promote, HAS TO BE CROSSING THE ROAD FRIENDLY TOO.
The odd thing about how rude they sometimes are is that everybody is a pedestrian some of the time. Couldn’t everybody remember that?