GRIFFITH’S worst bottleneck will be cleared thanks to construction beginning on the Kooringal Avenue level crossing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The state government has stumped up the cash to heighten visibility, enhance pedestrian access, upgrade the road and signage and install a boom gate complete with flashing lights.
Member for Murrumbidgee Adrian Piccoli lived around two blocks from the traffic jam for half his life and knows first-hand what an inconvenience the intersection could be.
“Of all the roads in Griffith this level crossing is the most overdue for an upgrade and yet so many people use it,” Mr Piccoli said.
“I lived a couple of blocks away for half my life and I know what it’s going to mean to people to speed this up, especially around school time.
“It’s about time we stopped this nuisance to drivers.”
Mr Piccoli was also relieved to have one less dangerous level crossing in the state.
“I know that a lot of people don’t stop at the intersection as it is now, so boom gates will go a long way to increasing the safety,” he said.
“Railway crossing collisions between trains and vehicles remain a major road safety risk in NSW and research has shown more than half of collisions involve motorists who live within 10km of a railway crossing.
“While infrastructure improvements will continue to reduce risk at level crossings, it is also important that drivers, riders and pedestrians take care and obey the road rules each time they encounter a level crossing.”