The potential for an accident at the increasingly busy Turrawan Road-Kamilaroi Highway intersection has prompted Narrabri Shire Council to seek changes to the corner configuration, with traffic volume through the intersection growing.
Councillors expressed concern about the safety of northbound vehicles turning on to Turrawan Road and also of southbound vehicles entering the highway.
The issue was first raised in 2007 and a traffic committee investigation found that a change to the corner was not warranted.
The matter was again raised late last year by Cr Bevan O’Regan who invoked the image of a semi trailer at highway speed bearing down on a stationary vehicle waiting to turn on to Turrawan Road.
The issue was referred to the traffic committee in February and last meeting of council tabled the results of its investigation which found that a change to the corner was still not warranted and recommended no action.
Councillors did not accept that the corner configuration should remain unchanged.
The issue was referred back to the traffic committee specifically raising concerns about the need for a right turn lane for northbound traffic and a slip (highway entry) lane for traffic going south.
Recent traffic count data (2011) at the intersection showed an increase in peak hour (4 to 5pm) traffic since 2007. The average daily northbound traffic (ADT) count was 107. Of this about 30 per cent turned right onto Turrawan Road. There was a southbound ADT count of 51.
Despite the ‘no action’ recommendation, councillors expressed concerns about the safety of the intersection. “Anyone who has turned off the highway there knows how dangerous it can be,” said Cr Robyn Faber.
Cr Faber said she wasn’t happy with the recommendation. She said a map didn’t show cars queuing or “more and more trucks” using the route.
“There is going to be a major collision there one day.”
Mayor Conrad Bolton commented that it seemed simple enough to have at least a passing lane at the turn off.
“I can’t see why that is so difficult,” he said.
Cr Faber moved that the matter go back to the traffic committee with concern expressed that there should be an overtaking lane going north.
Cr Catherine Collyer added that her concern was also about south bound traffic. A slip lane would be a good idea. Southbound vehicles can come around that bend fast, Cr Collyer said. Visibility and lead time was not great.
“I put my foot down to get out there,” she added.Cr Collyer was concerned about the angle of the turn, and suggested some additional sealing, which, as Cr Ken Flower said, was technically adding a slip lane.
Cr Les Knox voiced his concerns about school bus safety at the Turrawan intersection.
The issue will be considered again at the next traffic committee meeting with a report back to the April regular council meeting.