ORANGE councillors have requested a review into speed limits on the Northern Distributor Road, but not without concerns from a resident.
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Councillor Russell Turner proposed a change from 70km/h to 80/km/h between Ophir Road and The Escort Way and 80km/h to 100km/h between Ophir Road and the Mitchell Highway.
Any changes will require approval from Roads and Maritime Services.
But at Tuesday night’s Orange City Council meeting, Kaleno Way resident Donna McIntyre said she opposed any increase between Leeds Parade and The Escort Way due to the noise the Telopea Way intersection created around her home.
“Our family, our neighbours and the north Orange community are already subjected to 24 hours a day of increasing traffic noise,” she said.
“Given the recent approval of McDonald’s, there will be, without a doubt, an increase in foot traffic across the Northern Distributor - I would ask the council to also consider the safety aspect.”
Ms McIntyre also wanted to see action on compression braking.
Councillors were split on which parts of the motion they supported - some supported a change to 100km/h east of Ophir Road, but councillor Neil Jones argued the status quo should remain.
He believed only the Molong Road to The Escort Way stretch should be considered for a rise to 80km/h because there were no side roads.
“Trucks will be travelling from the top of the hill at 100km/h towards Icely Road where you have a dogleg intersection, which people cross using a small section of middle lane - it’s madness, it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” he said.
Cr Turner said he could see no reason why 100km/h would not work, saying the Millthorpe Road turn-off was located in the same speed zone.
“I think it’s time to seriously look at what the vast majority of motorists expect,” he said.
Amendments were proposed to deal with parts of the motion separately, but the review passed as Cr Turner originally proposed with mayor John Davis’s casting vote.
Ms McIntyre said a review would be fantastic.
“We can only hope the RMS will see the congestion and the residents’ homes, and hopefully even reduce the speed limit from 70km/h to 60km/h - that would be the ideal outcome,” she said.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
