Despite some people seeing the problem of pedestrian congestion at the intersection as an ideal opportunity for Griffith to “go electric”, councillors this week voted overwhelmingly in favour of the crossings.
Increased traffic, both cars and pedestrians, since the opening of the Griffith Central Plaza last year has highlighted the need for improved pedestrian access at the intersection.
The $245,000 project will see pedestrian refuges – or islands – placed outside Mackay’s Furniture One store in Yambil Street and opposite Mackay’s and Tom’s Cycle City in Jondaryan Avenue, however at this stage the crossings will not give pedestrians right of way against the traffic.
Paul Mackay of Mackay’s Furniture One said he was pleased the push for traffic lights had been quashed.
“I’m really pleased with the decision because traffic lights would have been a disaster for us,” Mr Mackay said.
“The problem with pedestrian access is not as acute as it was when Griffith Central first opened. There has been a steady decline in pedestrians as people get more used to parking in the centre’s carpark, but it is obviously still an issue and I’m
pleased council are doing something about it.”
However, ardent traffic lights advocate John Bortolazzo Snr is convinced Griffith should move with the times.
“Years ago (former mayor) John Dal Broi said Griffith would have traffic lights over his dead body and ever since then it never been seriously considered,” Mr Bortolazzo said.
“But I think Griffith needs traffic lights and I don’t see how these pedestrian refuges, if pedestrians don’t actually have right of way, will make it any safer.”
Mayor Dino Zappacosta said the
new pedestrian access points could be installed by the end of June.
“We’ve got the RTA’s support and funding and fortunately there is not that much road work to be undertaken so I would hope we would have it all finished before the end of this financial year,” he said.
Cr Zappacosta said although the cost of installing traffic lights at the intersection was estimated at about $700,000, nearly three times the cost of the refuges, it was important to maintain Griffith’s tradition as a traffic light free city. “The main issue regarding traffic lights is historical. The Griffith community have never accepted traffic lights and this decision by council preserves that tradition.”
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