The RTA proposes to replace the existing zebra crossing on the Great Western Highway north of Leichhardt Street, Blackheath, with traffic lights to improve pedestrian safety.
Status
The RTA has investigated two options to upgrade this pedestrian crossing. Community feedback on these two options is requested by Friday 10 July 2009.
Funding
This $500,000 project is fully funded by the NSW Government.
What has happened so far?
On 23 May 2006 the Minister for Roads announced a state-wide program to upgrade pedestrian crossings across multi-lane roads. The zebra crossing on the Great Western Highway north of Leichhardt Street, Blackheath was identified as one of 59 priority crossings needing an upgrade to improve pedestrian safety.
The RTA developed a proposal to replace the existing zebra crossing with traffic lights with full pedestrian facilities at the intersection of the Great Western Highway and Leichhardt Street, Blackheath.
A 2007 community update provided information about the proposed design. Construction was halted in November 2008 following community concern about the removal of five mature trees next to the Great Western Highway in Blackheath.
Community consultation
A community meeting on 22 December 2008 discussed both the Leichhardt Street proposal as well as other traffic management issues in Blackheath.
The RTA has since met with representatives from local community groups to better understand their concerns about the proposal. These groups include the Blackheath Chamber of Commerce, Blackheath Streetscape Committee, Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre, Blackheath Highway Action Group, Blackheath Public School principal and school council, and the NSW Department of Education and Training. The RTA has also held discussions with Blue Mountains City Council about the replacement of the trees that were removed and the landscaping of this area, as well as about a range of traffic issues in and around Blackheath.
A community information session was held on 20 June 2009.
A second information session will be held on Saturday 27 June 2009 from 12.30pm to 4.30pm at the Blackheath Community Centre (Bates Hall), corner of Great Western Highway and Gardiner Crescent, Blackheath.
Community feedback will be considered by the RTA before a preferred option is selected.
What is now proposed for the pedestrian crossing?
A community update was distributed in Blackheath in June 2009 with details about two options to upgrade this pedestrian crossing.
Option 1 is the original proposal to install signals at the intersection of the Great Western Highway and Leichhardt Street. Community feedback and discussions with Blue Mountains City Council have modified this option slightly.
Option 2 is a new proposal to install pedestrian lights across the Great Western Highway close to the existing zebra crossing.
Next steps
Community feedback on these two options is requested by Friday 10 July 2009.
Please address written comments to:
James Suprain, Project Manager, Roads and Traffic Authority
PO Box 973, Parramatta NSW 2124
Or email comments to: Blackheath@rta.nsw.gov.au
For more information
For further information on the pedestrian crossing upgrade, please contact James Suprain on (02) 8849 2294 or email Blackheath@rta.nsw.gov.au
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