PRINCES HIGHWAY CORRIDOR STRATEGY
On December 13th, 2016 the following question on notice was received from Councillor Constable:
"Has Council or Council staff been involved with the NSW Government, Local Member the Minister for Roads Transport and Maritime services or senior staff within the Roads and Maritime Services in any discussions about developing a new Princes Highway Corridor in the Eurobodalla Shire to better service the shire in coming years, that will alleviate highway congestion in Batemans Bay, Mogo, Moruya, Bodalla and Narooma."
If discussions have been held what was the outcome of those discussions particularly in relation to planning a future Princes Highway Corridor through the Eurobodalla Shire?" The response from Council was: The Princes Highway is a State road under the care and control of the NSW Government. Roads and Maritime Services is the responsible agency.Roads and Maritime Services has developed the Princes Highway Corridor Strategy which looks at a plan for the Princes Highway for the next 20 years. This strategy can be found at this link:The corridor strategy addresses town by-passes on pages 79-82. In short the strategy identifies the Princes Highway at Batemans Bay in the following terms: “Batemans Bay –Inner Bypass (existing) >20 years –no current plans for a full by-pass. The short, medium and long term plans will be to monitor land-use development and manage movement on the existing alignment of the Princes Highway” (page 81). Council’s own traffic studies, which were prepared in partnership with the RMS, support this position subject to works at various intersections. This included: - Lengthening the right turn lane into Beach Road off the Princes Highway (complete –funded by the RMS) - Banning the right turn into Guy Street off the Princes Highway (complete –funded by the RMS) - Construction of a service lane south of Beach Road (complete –funded by private development) - Realignment of the Princes Highway at south Batemans Bay and provision of an appropriate intersection treatment with the South Batemans Bay Link Road (under design and consideration for funding) - Lengthening the right turn lane into North Street off the Princes Highway - Providing additional lanes with traffic lights at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Old Highway - Duplicating the Princes Highway between the Old Highway and Guy Street - Provision of a four lane bridge crossing of the Clyde River Batemans Bay - Upgrading of the intersection at Princes Highway/Kings Highway The Corridor Strategy does not identify the need for any other by-pass within Eurobodalla in the next 20 years, indicating the RMS propose to manage traffic along the existing route of the Princes Highway. Council has previously had discussions with the RMS regarding the need to undertake the long term planning for a by-pass of the township of Moruya. However, this is beyond the RMS’ current planning horizon and was not included in the Princes Highway corridor strategy Narooma already has an inner by-pass route reserved which is not expected to be implemented in the short to medium term. This route is likely to be needed, at least in part, if a new bridge were to be built in the future at Narooma. Any suggested alternate route west of Wagonga Inlet is not considered to be a practicable or affordable option. Mogo township has a number of emerging challenges, which have been raised with the RMS, particularly the Princes Highway/Tomakin Road intersection, the narrow bridge on the Princes Highway and growing pedestrian movements across the highway. Bodalla township also has some challenges in regard to pedestrian movements across the highway. However these are being address through the provision of improved pathways, pedestrian facilities (e.g. pedestrian refuge near Sutcliffe Street) and the recently implemented reduction in speed zone to 50km/hr. The community consultation report prepared by the RMS indicates the RMS response to submissions relating to by-passes within Eurobodalla. The RMS’ response is contained on page 7 of the report at this link This re-affirms the proposed approach by the NSW Government to utilise the existing highway route through Eurobodalla rather than create a new ‘by-pass’ route. It is recommended that Council continue to advocate for specific improvements along the existing Princes Highway route rather than pursue by-pass routes at this point in time. RECOMMENDATIONTHAT the response to the question regarding the Princes Highway Corridor Strategy raised by Councillor Constable be received and noted. Source
