Duffy asks to investigate opening Franklin Road and Anson Street | Poll

Councillor Kevin Duffy asked at Orange City Council’s meeting last week whether it could be considered and was told it would be put to a briefing.

Fellow councillor Glenn Taylor, who is also the council’s infrastructure policy committee chairman, said it had merit because Peisley Street and Forest Road were taking high traffic numbers.

“The Gardiner Road intersection is a nightmare for people who have to turn right into [Peisley Street], we really need lights there, it’s a major bottleneck,” he said.

“Because Gardiner Road is so narrow, it also blocks left-turning traffic – our hands are tied, we have no way of expanding the corner because we haven’t got the land to make the corner larger

“I think [opening Franklin Road] gives people an alternative to Gardiner Road.”

Cr Taylor said Franklin Road was closed before the traffic lights were installed at the intersection, due to safety concerns, and they would need to be reconfigured if the road was opened.

However, he stressed the idea was in the early stages and public consultation would occur.

“It’s a worthwhile discussion to have, we need to look at it a bit more closely,” he said.

Cr Duffy also asked about opening a section between Anson Street and Amana Circuit in Bletchington, which currently hosts a pedestrian path.

He believed the step could improve traffic flow through to the Northern Distributor Road.

“If you travel around Anson Street now, you can see there’s a huge flow of traffic, especially when there’s a sports day there,” he said.

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