CONGESTION at the Murray Street and Lyndoch Road intersection has begun to ease following the completion of road resurfacing works earlier this week.
The State-Government funded works began on June 9, between Lyndoch Road and Murray Street, and were carried out in the evenings.
However, a temporary change to the traffic light sequence and timing at the bottom of Lyndoch Road, and at the intersection of Murray and Cowan Streets, had some motorists seeing red.
During peak-hour and school drop-off/pick-up times, traffic was often banked-up more than 300 metres on Lyndoch Road, while waiting to turn right onto the main street.
A Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) spokesperson said the traffic light changes were a result of traffic sensors being temporarily non-operational due to the resurfacing works.
“The traffic lights were initially running in a set sequence to ensure all approaches received a green light,” the spokesperson said.
“Our Traffic Management Centre adjusted the sequence on Monday, June 15 to cater for known traffic movements at the intersection.”
Nearby resident Brian Thom said he believes given the high volume of traffic in the area, congestion could have been alleviated if the green turn-right arrow was extended to 30 seconds, and motorists were not immediately faced with another red light at the Cowan Street intersection.
“We have been pleased that DPTI have remediated the very rough left lane from High Street and Murray Street, but there has been long lines of vehicles waiting to turn right, with vehicles banked up to Daly Street,” he said.
“I (timed) the green light on for just 18 seconds, which is most unacceptable given the volume of traffic and especially the heavy transports.”