By Jena Carr
Construction will soon begin on a Torquay intersection to improve road network safety and traffic management.
Surf Coast Shire Council decided, seven councillors to one, to award a contract to Fulton Hogan Industries to upgrade the Bristol Road and Surf Coast Highway intersections during its April 23 meeting.
Councillor Rose Hodge said the upgrade would include traffic lights and signalised pedestrian crossing points to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
“I know a lot of people didn’t want the lights, but it is a necessary item to get people to and from areas safely,” she said.
“A lot of pedestrians walk from the main town down to the church estate, so they need a safe crossing, and the lights will give them this.
“I think Torquay needs another set of lights like a hole in the head at times, there’s just so many lights, but they do need to be done for safety.”
Cr Adrian Schnfelder said the construction would allow the council to deliver critical infrastructure as a Torquay Jan Juc Development Contributions Plan requirement.
“People say traffic lights are a nuisance, but pedestrian safety is very important and there are other factors that need to be considered,” he said.
“Traffic lights do break the traffic up, so that means other people from service roads are able to come onto the Surf Coast highway.”
Cr Paul Barker said the intersection being controlled by traffic lights would add “another hurdle to (people) commuting by cars”.
“I would like to be on the record as opposing this intersection being controlled by lights only as it will significantly add to commute times,” he said.
“When I first moved to Torquay, the drive into Geelong took 20 to 25 minutes. Now we’re closer to 30 to 35 minutes for the same route. Every set of traffic lights adds to this travel time.”
