Bathurst Regional Council conducted a traffic and pedestrian count this week at the city’s most choked intersection as it looks to bust traffic congestion in the CBD.
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The George and Howick street intersection is choked in the morning and afternoon peak hour, bringing that part of the city to a halt.
Bathurst Traffic Committee chair, councillor Warren Aubin, told the Western Advocate last month that plans were in place to help ease the congestion.
Part of those plans was to monitor the vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the busy intersection.
Contractors counted on Tuesday and Wednesday this week between 8am and 6pm.
“Traffic movements at each leg of the intersection, that is, those vehicles turning left or right or travelling straight through [were counted], as well as the number of pedestrians using the three marked pedestrian crossings,” mayor Gary Rush said.
Council confirmed at last month’s Traffic Committee meeting that it would look at the troubled intersection.
Cr Aubin said the main problems were the three pedestrian crossings, along with the phasing of the lights at the intersection of George and Durham.
Council has this week installed mechanical traffic counters on George Street and these will remain in place for a minimum of two weeks.
“The counts for both vehicle and pedestrian movements can now be incorporated into RMS [Roads and Maritime Services] traffic modelling software that can feed into traffic light phasing,” Cr Rush said.
“The work being undertaken will be provided to the RMS, who will assist council in determining what is the best solution for the George and Howick street intersection.
“It will also allow the RMS to make adjustments to the phasing of the traffic lights at the Great Western Highway and George Street if required.”
