From the Newsroom

Local News

One-way streets proposed for Whiting Beach intersection

Clarence Valley Council (CVC) will soon be asking the community for feedback about a proposal to apply a “one-way treatment” to the Harbour and Clarence streets intersection near Whiting Beach, Yamba.

Motorists driving northwards down the steep incline of Clarence Street have to navigate a blind spot when turning right towards Turners Beach; motorists travelling eastwards on Harbour Street are at risk of colliding with cars attempting to navigate the blind spot.

In a CVC media release, manager of civil services, Alex Dalrymple, said: “Concept designs will be drafted to enable one-way traffic flow.

“These designs will be presented to the community for feedback and a further report provided to the traffic committee for consideration.”

Councillors adopted the proposal, among others recommended by the Local Traffic Committee, at the June 23 CVC meeting.

Councillors supported the committee’s recommendation, to prepare “concept designs for a one-way treatment … that includes Harbour Street as eastbound only and Clarence Street as southbound only”.

The issue was raised by Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis, who wrote to CVC “about the poor sight distance” at the intersection.

“The correspondence was originally from a resident and called for a mirror to be installed at this location,” the traffic committee’s minutes stated.

However, “mirrors are not a suitable alternative to appropriate sight distance and this solution is not supported or recommended”, staff wrote in their report to the traffic committee.

Many years ago there was a mirror at the intersection; however, it was not replaced after being damaged.

“Our records show one vehicle accident in this location that resulted in serious injuries (hospitalisation) [in] 2015,” staff wrote in the report.

“This is not a significant crash history and would not be highlighted as a crash cluster.”

Specific issues raised by staff include: “The existing intersection does not meet the current design guidelines as set out in Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 4A in a number of areas.

“These include the horizontal and vertical alignment, the intersection angle, swept paths and the site distance.

“Of particular issue is the Safe Intersection Site Distance (SSID) for the turning movement of vehicles, turning from Clarence Street onto Harbour Street.

“Vehicles travelling north along Harbour Street towards Turners Beach have a limited visibility of vehicles turning right.

“In addition, for large vehicles, the swept path of the left turn movement takes them across the centreline and into the oncoming lane.”