Councillor Warren Aubin, also chair of the Bathurst Traffic Committee, said council ordered the new rings pre COVOD-19. They have yet to arrive, but he said as soon as they hit the ground, upgrade works in the area will get underway.

"The rings have been ordered and basically they make the roundabout bigger. They are external rubber rings which go around the outside of the centre," he said.

Cr Aubin said the rings were ordered over three months ago, but like everything else, due to COVID-19 delays had been experienced.

"But as soon as they hit the ground, the work will be down on the list, and within a week or so the work will begin," he said.

Other changes to make the roundabout safer will include changes to the traffic islands, which will be widened to change the deflection angle.

MAKING NEWS:

The left turning lane from Suttor Street into Bradwardine Road, towards the RTA, will also be removed, so there is just one lane of traffic, which can either go straight ahead or turn left.

Cr Aubin said this was a large part of the issue on the roundabout, and suspected it would reduce potential accidents.

Painted traffic islands will also be made into concrete, which Cr Aubin said will certainly slow drivers down.

Cr Aubin said the roundabout had long been a concern, with accidents on it a regular occurrence.

He has been petitioning to have the roundabout improved for over two years.

In August 2019, Bathurst Regional Council received $235,000 in Black Spot funding to improve it, after a number of very serious crashes.

Cr Aubin said the roundabout was "the worst in the city."

"It's become the worst intersection for crashes in Bathurst," Cr Aubin said.

"I use it 10 times day, even more. The major thing is as you come down Bradwardine Road, if there's a vehicle on the roundabout it's usually right behind the pillar of your windscreen, right in the blind spot.

"Most people don't actually look around, so if you keep going through ... whack."

Cr Aubin said the problem is drivers just weren't slowing down.

"If they don't slow down..... something terrible is going to happen there."

He said the upgrade will be a priority when the rings arrive.

"We will put it on a works list, and it will be started within the week."