A NEW report into the intersection of Mitre, Suttor and Lambert streets will come before councillors at Wednesday night’s meeting of Bathurst Regional Council.
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The report provides an update on the matter, which has received significant public attention since late 2016.
Kent and Dianne McNab embarked on a powerful campaign to see the confusing intersection improved after a car slammed into the fence of The Assumption School in November.
They have since attended council meetings and used public question times as an opportunity to inform councillors about the importance of fixing the intersection.
The couple has also recruited other concerned residents and victims of accidents at the intersection to speak at the meetings.
These efforts were acknowledged in the introduction to the report.
It goes on to detail the history of the intersection, starting from 1997 when consultant PPK provide the final draft for the Bathurst City Traffic Study.
“This document addressed a number of issues associated with projected growth for the Bathurst region through to 2016,” acting director of engineering services Darren Sturgiss said in the report.
“This intersection was covered in this study, and was referenced as being ‘confusing’ in the current configuration.”
At a council meeting in November, 1999, after consideration of the recommendations that resulted from the study, council resolved to construct a roundabout at the intersection subject to funds being voted.
The report that will be before councillors on Wednesday night also details the various suggestions that have been made to fix the intersection over the years, including traffic lights and a roundabout with and without altering the existing geometry.
It states that the recommended option is to install a roundabout with the realignment of Suttor Street.
Mr and Mrs McNab hope that it will be the option that is put in place.
“This is the third time that the engineering department has recommended a roundabout,” Mr McNab said.
The couple will speak during public question time at Wednesday night’s meeting and have encouraged anyone with an opinion on the intersection to also attend and speak.
“We’re going to present our petition as well, which is at 3540 signatures,” Mr McNab said.
