THE speed limit on a dangerous section of Vale Road will be reduced on Thursday to make the area safer for all road users.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Roads and Maritime Services carried out a review of the road as part of an ongoing speed zone review program and in response to a request from Bathurst Regional Council.
It resulted in a decision to drop to 100km speed limit on Vale Road to 80km, from 620 metres north-east of Hen and Chicken Lane to 230 metres west of Hen and Chicken Lane.
The 50km speed limit on Vale Road will also increase to 100 km from 1.4 kilometres west of Hen and Chicken Lane to 1.485 kilometres west of Hen and Chicken Lane.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the review assessed a number of factors to come to the decision.
“The review assessed a number of factors along the road including pedestrian and cyclist activity, road environment, traffic characteristics and crash data,” he said. “In the previous five years there has been one serious injury crash and one minor/other injury crash along the review length.”
Councillor Warren Aubin, a member of Bathurst’s traffic committee, threw his support behind the changes, saying 100km was too fast for the area in question.
“I think it is just a no-brainer to have that swerving road near the trees down to 80km,” he said.
“I think it is a good move and I am happy it has been approved.”
Cr Aubin said the changes were about ensuring all road users were safe while travelling on Vale Road.
“It was something that they needed to look at,” he said.
Matthew Irvine, a road safety advocate and frequent traveler of Vale Road, said the changes were very sensible given the nature of the road.
He said if Lagoon Road only recently had its speed limit lowered to 80km, Vale Road had to be looked at by the RMS.
“I would say that it is sensible given the sight on that road and the alignment,” Mr Irvine said.
The other factor, Mr Irvine said, that warranted a lower speed limit was the number of cyclists that frequently ride along Vale Road.
“Crash history is one thing, but near-misses are another,” he said.
“But I think the potential for crashes, particularly with the cyclists, is high.”
People can sign up at the Safer Roads NSW website to receive updates about changes to speed limits in their nominated area and have their say on speed limits.