Member for Robertson Gordon Reid has taken up the fight to improve safety conditions at the Wards Hill Rd and Empire Bay Dr intersection at Empire Bay, launching a petition calling on the State Government and Central Coast Council to take action.
CCN reported on the issue in February, with a post on the Killcare-Wagstaffe Community Facebook page calling for a roundabout at the dangerous intersection attracting numerous likes and comments.
Resident Bill Young said at the time that unless motorists took the long route via MacMaster Beach, the intersection was the only exit from the heavily populated Killcare, Hardys Bay, Pretty Beach and Wagstaffe areas.
“At the moment, many cars do a ‘rat-run’ through the petrol station to avoid the intersection and turn left towards Ettalong,” he said.
“But it is the right hand turn on to Empire Bay Dr that is the most dangerous.
“Often your vision to the left is obscured by a vehicle turning left.”
Young said the traffic bank up from the Empire Bay Primary School often extended to the intersection on school days.
Reid met with concerned residents recently and said he would write to new State Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Atchison and Council Administrator Rik Hart, as well as launching the petition.
“The Wards Hill Rd and Empire Bay Dr intersection is no longer fit for purpose and cannot handle the volume of traffic safely during peak periods”, he said.
Young welcomed Reid’s involvement, saying residents are fed up with traffic congestion and poor safety conditions.
“More needs to be done than band-aid solutions like line marking and more signs,” he said.
“The community wants to see this project as a priority and an outcomes-based solution.”
To sign the petition, go to https://drgordonreidmp.com.au/our-coast-community/wards-hill-road-and-empire-bay-drive-intersection-petition/.
Terry Collins
A roundabout is not the answer, it fails to address what causes the traffic bank up in the first place which is the school zone further down. It also fails the test of whether larger vehicles such as buses can use it to turn onto Wards Hill rd from the Woy Woy direction which they would not be able to do with a small roundabout which is what the available space would allow. Install a proper slip lane on Empire Bay drive at the intersection in the Kincumber direction and move the school entrance to the back side of the school and take away the lights and school zone on Empire Bay Drive.