Narrabri Shire Council is to push for the creation of busy Barwan Street, Narrabri, as a ‘through road’ with ‘stop’ signs moved from Barwan to Doyle at the intersection.
The Local Traffic Facilities Committee doesn’t support the move, and council voted at last meeting to take its proposal to the state roads authority if the Traffic Committee
maintains its objection.
The differing positions revolve around road safety concerns for Public School students and a council desire to keep ‘non-shopping’ traffic out of Maitland street.
The Narrabri CBD masterplan identified the Barwan Street-Doyle Street intersection as a traffic nexus which needs improvement.
Barwan Street is a major route which is now carrying an increasing volume of heavy vehicles, the council’s traffic counts reveal.
However, the flow of Barwan Street traffic comes to a halt at the ‘stop’ signs at the Doyle Street intersection and defers to Doyle Street vehicles.
A roundabout was proposed at the intersection in the CBD masterplan, and funding subsequently allocated, but the funds last year were re-directed by council to other uses.
In October last year council asked the Traffic Facilities Committee if the ‘stop’ sign could be switched from Barwan to Doyle Street and free flow given to Barwan Street for a year’s trial, plus introduce parallel parking in Doyle Street to improve visibility.
However, the Traffic Committee advised last council meeting its unanimous decision was that the current ‘stop’ sign and parking arrangements in Doyle Street should stay.
“The main concern from the Traffic Committee, in particular the police representative, was the impact on the school crossing” a council report said. “It was considered that the existing ‘stop’ sign was forcing vehicles to slow down prior to the crossing, which in turn has improved safety.”
However, council did not accept the Traffic Committee decision.
Council adopted a motion from Cr Ken Flower that “in light of the need to remove traffic from the main street, the council will be making Barwan Street the through road. The council welcomed Traffic Committee advice on suitable ‘traffic calming’ solutions for the school crossing area.”
If the Traffic Committee continues its objections after 14 days the matter would be taken to the regional road authority. Cr Flower said through traffic should be encouraged to use Barwan Street, not Maitland Street. “We want to encourage traffic out of the main street and leave it for the shoppers.” Council also adopted Cr Maxine Booby’s motion that the council ask the Traffic Committee to look at changing the angle of parking in Doyle Street to 30 degrees.