Dalton Street to open up as give way signs shift to Clinton and Sampson street intersections

In effect from Monday, November 1, drivers along Dalton Street will now have right of way with give way signs now placed at the intersections at Sampson and Clinton streets switching to make way for the change.

Cars travelling along Clinton and Sampson streets will now have to give way to traffic on Dalton Street.

Traffic counters reveal on average 2003 cars a day are travelling Dalton Street while 950 are travelling along Clinton Street.

Sampson Street is slightly busier with 1457 cars a day, but still less than Dalton Street.

Orange City Council mayor Reg Kidd said the change is a sign of the city's growth.

"Back when these streets were first established Sampson and Clinton had far more cars, but that's changed," Cr Reg Kidd said.

"Recent traffic counts have revealed that twice as many cars are using Dalton Street compared to Clinton Street."

Construction work is continuing on a raised platform at the corner of Dalton and Sampson streets.

"The building of the new platform at the corner of Dalton and Sampson streets is the ideal opportunity to introduce this change, as drivers settle into new routines. Now's the time to also make the change at the Clinton Street corner," Cr Reg Kidd said.

Electronic messages boards are already in place for drivers approaching the changed intersections.

The City of Orange Traffic Committee gave the go-ahead for the priority road changes in August and September this year.

Traffic Committee chair Cr Russell Turner said it was important for drivers to take extra caution as they get used to the changes.

"Once these changes come into effect, apart from the corners with roundabouts, Dalton Street will have right-of-way," Cr Turner said.

"That's good news for the efficient movement of traffic from one side of Orange to the other."

Over the five-year study period there were three collisions at the Dalton-Sampson street corner and four collisions at the Dalto-Clinton street corner.

"Due to the accident record, plans are being developed for a future roundabout at the Dalton-Clinton intersection, and Council is currently seeking grant funding for the project," Cr Turner said.

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