The second intersection at Farrell Road was completed in late May to alleviate traffic flow issues leading to the existing traffic lights at the Northern Distributor Road. 

However, North Orange resident Carmel Cass said the left-turn-only lane from Telopea Way into Farrell Road had caused confusion among motorists, who mistook the lane as a left turn lane for the Northern Distributor Road.

“People in the right hand lane expect people in the left hand lane to turn left at the first set of traffic lights, but they’re zooming up on the inside,” she said. 

Ms Cass said those motorists doing the right thing then encountered difficulties merging into the left hand lane to turn left onto the Northern Distributor Road because of the extra cars. 

She said the arrangement had caused extra congestion, making it difficult to exit the North Orange shopping centre. 

“It’s pushing more traffic onto Farrell Road,” she said.

Ms Cass argued, with most of the traffic using Telopea Way, a Give Way sign on Farrell Road would have been the ideal solution.

Fellow resident Richard Eggleston said accessing Farrell Road from the Northern Distributor Road was also difficult due to the short distance between the two intersections. 

“You need to get into the right hand turn lane on Telopea Way. This involves lane changing during turning at an intersection, which I believe might be illegal,” he said.

“I have heard of trucks waiting for up to 30 minutes to get out of North Orange shopping centre if the junior sport is coming out of Waratahs. 

“And this is without McDonalds pumping an extra 200 vehicles an hour through the intersection.”

Orange City Council spokesman Allan Reeder said it was important for drivers to learn how the new intersection at Telopea Way and Farrell Road operated and to obey the road rules.

“Once the new McDonalds opens that intersection is expected to get busier, and more cars coming from Telopea Way will be turning left,” he said.

“At every other intersection where there are two lanes of traffic, the arrows painted on the roadway make it very clear whether a driver can go straight ahead or turn left, or both.

“Where there is a left-hand turning arrow painted on the roadway leading up to an intersection, a driver in that lane has to turn left at that intersection.”

Mr Reeder said most drivers were using it correctly, however, adding a sign reading ‘Left-turn into Farrell Road’ was being considered.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au