The Roads and Maritime Service’s (RMS) planned construction of a roundabout at the Manning Street, Point Road intersection has been angrily rejected by the Great Lakes community, with many residents maintaining the only effective solution to congestion issues would be construction of a new bridge.
“I can't believe they would even think of a roundabout, a waste of a lot of money,” Jan Amato commented, taking part in a discussion on the Advocate’s Facebook page.
“There will be a hell of a lot more accidents and if someone dies then that is on the head of the fool that decided to do it.
“Have a no right turn onto the bridge from Point Rd. God help us all when it is tourist time.”
Susan Gilmour-Butterfield said it was a much safer option to do the short drive around to the traffic lights.
“Last year I had a darling stop dead in front of me to give way to her right,” she wrote.
“Lucky I was watching her and have good brakes!
“Fifteen crashes in five years with majority of the motorists attempting to turn right, no I’m not joking I think it’s the safest option. If there’s a round about big chance that number will rise.”
Amelia Harris added that she had two accidents in town, both at a roundabout and neither her fault.
“It doesn’t matter how cautious you are people just don’t know the rules especially the elderly unfortunately,” she wrote.
“Umm I notice it is almost all women drivers wanting to go back to lights - most interesting???” Essie McDonald commented.
“Council need to liaise with state government and planning regarding a second bridge for Forster/Tuncurry, Luke Adams said.
“It's about two decades too late.”
Anthea Whittaker agreed with this sentiment, but suggested that kind of money wouldn’t be spent.
“EVERY year they delay the decision will just make it more expensive,” Roberta Pearce responded.
“It will NEVER be cheap - but it will only ever get more expensive with each passing year. They should be approaching the State Gov for assistance in getting it done.”
Kylie Lee agreed that a second bridge would be a much better option to get traffic flowing better, and Tom Robinson suggested saving up the money over a few years and getting some foundations in the lake to handle a dual lane bridge.
“We're going to need it one day,” he wrote.
“Can you imagine the lines over the bridge,” David Birks asked.
“Totally unbelievable. It will be a nightmare. Still, someone has been paid a fortune to design it. Just a shame they are not out of kindy yet.”
“Pull your finger out,” Luke Adams added.
“Build a second bridge, stop wasting time and money on useless bandaid fixes that will just result in more congestion. Any town planner with a brain or willingness to put useful ideas forward would be great.”
Michelle Benham wondered how the semis and caravans would go navigating the suggested roundabout.
“It’s an absolutely crazy solution,” Peter Howard added.
“It will create an even worse problem, and will be a dead-set danger to those coming from the Forster side.
“The blind approach will see a LOT of accidents, particularly for those towing in greasy conditions. Councillors should intervene, NOW.”
Ron Melbourne said the roundabout would cause chaos in peak times at Easter and Christmas.
“It is going to be hell , ALL the traffic onto the bridge will have to give way to ALL the boaties from the ramp! Manning St will be backed up to the tip!!” he wrote.
“A 1950’s bridge in 2018,” Anthea Whittaker commented.
“The council have let all these high rises develop to accommodate more tourists. The roads and that bridge can’t handle it.
“Roundabouts just frustrate people because no one slows down to 20km to let traffic flow. What is the Town Planner doing? What about the engineers? I don’t even want to start on the parking problem!!”
“Ban the right hand turn and direct that traffic up to either the lights or the roundabout at Fays Cinema corner where they can make a controlled turn,” Rosemary Reid suggested.
“Who dreamed up this solution. Of course we need extra lanes on the bridge or a new bridge but certainly not a roundabout.”
“As an experienced designer of roundabouts / intersections for other Councils, I think a roundabout at this location is unsuitable and dangerous,” Wayne Brissett wrote.
Samm Van De Lindt commented that just the outlines of the roundabout have started to confuse drivers, let alone the roundabout itself.
“I’ve had two near accidents in the last month! It will only make traffic worse!!!” Samm wrote.
Rozzie Clews said with a new roundabout it would be quicker to walk over the bridge, and Marilyn Moscato said she wanted to get some shares in the smash repair business.
“Because that’s all this roundabout is going to do,” she wrote.
“Imagine any holidays the traffic will be slower. No one will want to go to Forster and no one will want to go Tuncurry.
“In holiday time it takes 40 mins from Stocklands to get to Tuncurry. Council has not thought this through. It’s a bandaid. Put a no right turn from Point Road and fix The ambulance corner.”
“Once again, another roundabout...” Mitty Clrk added, “at this rate, I'll just sit on a carousel and save myself the hassle.”
