Left in/left out with signalised pedestrian crossing - preferred option
To resolve the accidents that are seen occurring at the intersection, closing the median on Harewood Road is preferred. This will make both Gardiners Road and Breens Road a left turn in and left turn out.
Vehicles travelling from Gardiners Road to Breens Road will need to use the U-turn slots already provided on Harewood Road.
Pedestrian signals would be installed at the intersection to allow people to safely cross Harewood Road. Vehicles on Harewood Road would be stopped only when pedestrians push the button to cross the road, minimising traffic delays.
A bus-only right-turn slot would remain on Harewood Road to allow buses to turn into Gardiners Road. The bus would activate the pedestrian signal through sensors under the road, to stop oncoming vehicles while the bus turns. The turning slot signals will not activate for other vehicles.
Examples can be seen on Memorial Avenue and Fendalton Road.
Funding
This option has an estimated cost of $400,000 to implement and will likely be eligible for funding subsidy from the Government.
Advantages
- Traffic conflicts are eliminated, making the intersection safer for turning vehicles.
- The pedestrian crossing signals will provide a safe point for people to cross Harewood Road at the intersection. Traffic is stopped only while the crossing is in use. For students walking to Breens Intermediate School, the signals will be a significant safety improvement and may encourage more students to walk to and from school.
- This option has an estimated cost of $400,000 to implement and will likely be eligible for a funding subsidy from the Government.
- The left in/left out on Gardiners Road and Breens Road means a single lane approach to Harewood Road will be sufficient. This eliminates the problem of vehicles blocking the view for left-turning traffic, which has been implicated in some collisions at the intersection. This is within the current available funding and would also allow implementation within the next 12 months.
- Access from Gardiners Road to Breens Road, or vice versa, is still possible by using the U-turn slots on Harewood Road. This is a manoeuvre already used by drivers looking for a safe place to cross.
- The bus route from Harewood Road into Gardiners Road will remain.
- There will be minimal disruption to traffic flow on Harewood Road.
- Planting of trees and grass along the new median is included in the intersection redesign.
- This option is compatible with future planned work along Harewood Road, including new cycleway infrastructure if Harewood Road is the chosen route.
Disadvantages
- Some traffic currently crossing at this intersection will use other nearby streets rather than the U-turn slots on Harewood Road. This has been modelled and the effect would be minor.
- There will be a change to the community connectivity as a result of the median closure. Connectivity for pedestrians is improved, but connectivity for vehicles is reduced.
- Some local trips which would have used this intersection may require the use of local streets.