A RESIDENT has backed council efforts to win funding for a roundabout on the Northern Distributor Road (NDR) but it needed to happen faster, saying motorists were taking risks daily.
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James Caulfield said the growth in the number of homes along William Maker Drive had made for waits up to seven minutes at the NDR intersection at peak times and motorists were taking chances turning into small gaps between traffic.
“Taking chances and speeding, put those together and eventually something is going to happen,” Mr Caulfield said.
“[Orange City Council has] been busily approving everything but not willing to put the infrastructure in, they knew this was coming.”
He said some avoided the intersection by taking Platinum Parade to Telopea Way, but speeding was endemic across North Orange, with motorists avoiding streets with speed humps.
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“We're all thinking it’s P-platers, but it’s everyone – I’m worried about children getting hurt,” he said.
He said if a grant did not come through soon, the council should fund the $4.6 million roundabout itself.
Traffic committee chairman and councillor Russell Turner said funding the roundabout without government help would leave “a big hole” in the budget for other roads, but speed humps were being considered.
“The traffic in other streets mightn’t yet warrant devices like this, but the council will be keeping an eye on these numbers as new homes continue to be built,” he said.
VIDEO: Heavy traffic at the intersection on Wednesday afternoon:
He said infrastructure depended on how quickly subdivisions were developed.
“We’d need a crystal ball to know which streets are going to be busiest,” he said.
Cr Turner said the committee discussed concerns during this week’s meeting and police were keeping an eye on the area and while residents were generally pleased the recent upgrade and widening from the NDR to the hill, it was now a wide, smooth road without houses on either side.
He said it was also up to drivers to be responsible with their speed where there were young children.