Third crossing of the Hunter River at Maitland Community ... · crossings at Belmore and Morpeth...
2
Third crossing of the Hunter River at Maitland Community update JULY 2006 RTA/Pub.06.153 Your comments are welcome Send your written comments to: Philip Davidson Roads and Traffic Authority Locked Bag 30 Newcastle NSW 2300 ( 02 ) 4924 0342 Philip [email protected] ( 02 ) 4924 0332 East Maitland traffic management There are four essential features of this proposal. 1. The intersection of Melbourne Street, Lawes Street and Pitnacree Road would be upgraded to a traffic signalised intersection (shown at left). 2. Melbourne Street between the New England Highway and Pitnacree Road would be improved to encourage traffic to use this link. The intersection of Melbourne Street and the New England Highway would be upgraded to provide an additional turning lane for vehicles turning right from the highway towards Pitnacree Road, and a separate turn lane for vehicles turning left from Melbourne Street towards Newcastle. These intersections would have signage to encourage their use. 3.To ensure the appropriate use of Lawes Street and local streets in East Maitland, the RTA, Council and community representatives have considered traffic management measures.These include: Narrowing traffic lanes to separate through traffic from parking and cyclists. Providing more crossing opportunities for pedestrians, including a signalised crossing near the schools. 4.Traffic volumes on these local streets would be monitored after the opening of the project. Community consultation The community liaison group has reformed to assist in the development of the proposal. The group meets to discuss the progress of the project focusing on the specialist reports from the environmental assessment as they become available.The specialist reports include: Traffic modelling of East Maitland. Modelling potential flood levels with the new road and bridge in place to assist with the design of floodwater and drainage measures. Flora and fauna assessment. Heritage assessment. Socio-economic assessment. Noise assessment. A sub-group of the community liaison group focussed on how to manage traffic impacts in East Maitland. This sub- group has members from outside the community liaison group including representatives from the local council, schools and local businesses. The group has reviewed the traffic modelling of East Maitland and helped to develop a scheme that encourages drivers to use the Melbourne Street – New England Highway connection. The group then considered what would be an appropriate road environment in Lawes Street.The group recognised that any treatment in Lawes Street would impact both local and through traffic alike. It was agreed that minimal treatments were initially preferable, with the possibility of upgrading the measures if required. Your thoughts on these measures in East Maitland Community information sessions on these local area traffic management proposals for East Maitland will be held at the following locations and times: East Maitland Library 3 Garnett Road East Maitland Saturday 15 July 2006 from 9.30 am to 12 noon Stockland Shoping Centre Green Hills, Molly Morgan Drive East Maitland (Lower car park entrance near Prouds) Saturday 22 July 2006 from 9.30 am to 12 noon Benefits of a new crossing The proposal would provide Maitland with a new central road corridor connecting East Maitland to Bolwarra and Largs, bypassing the Maitland CBD. Subsequently, the villages of Lorn and Morpeth will enjoy reduced through traffic. Motorists using this route will benefit from travel time and travel distance savings compared to using the existing crossings at Belmore and Morpeth bridges. This project would reduce traffic volumes using the heritage listed Morpeth Bridge. North of the river, residents located midway between the two existing crossings (such as Bolwarra Heights and Largs) gain the greatest benefits in time and distance savings, with a more direct connection.Those with a local destination such as East Maitland and Tenambit will have an alternative route to the Belmore Bridge and the New England Highway. The proposed route provides greater travel time savings and travel distance benefits compared to the other options.This provides greater savings in vehicle operating costs and reduction of motor vehicle emissions. The proposal will save drivers 10,500 km of travel per day (in 2016).This is almost twice the distance that would be saved by drivers using the western options previously considered, and a saving of approximately 2.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases per day. The RTA,Maitland Council representatives and community have looked at ways to manage traffic. This newsletter contains this information and details of an information morning to meet the study team. Planning for a new crossing of the Hunter River at Maitland commenced in January 2003. In November 2004, the NSW Government announced the selection of the eastern route as the preferred option for the third Hunter River crossing at Maitland. $6 million has been set aside in 2006/07 for the continued planning and to commence construction of this project. This update provides information about local traffic proposals. Current field activities include: Completion of the levee investigations (to refine the flood model that assesses potential flood impacts and how to avoid or mitigate these). Geotechnical testing at the road and bridge sites (including the river bed) to assist bridge design. REFINE THE CONCEPT DESIGN Range of environmental studies. Community consultation: community liaison group, discussion with landowners, Council and government agencies. Community consultation: ongoing discussions with the community liaison group and stakeholders. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The project can proceed when approval has been granted.The community will be informed about approval and any special conditions that apply. APPROVAL DISPLAY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT What happens next The next steps in this project are shown below: All information in correspondence is collected for the sole purpose of assisting in the assessment of this proposal.The information may be used by the RTA and/or the RTA’s project contractors.All information received, including names and addresses of respondents, may be published in subsequent documents unless clear indication is given in the correspondence that all or part of that information is not to be published.
Transcript of Third crossing of the Hunter River at Maitland Community ... · crossings at Belmore and Morpeth...
Third crossing of the Hunter River at MaitlandCommunity update
JULY 2006
RTA/Pub.06.153
Your comments are welcomeSend your written comments to:
Philip DavidsonRoads and Traffic AuthorityLocked Bag 30Newcastle NSW 2300
(02) 4924 0342
Philip [email protected]
(02) 4924 0332
East Maitland traffic management
There are four essential features of this proposal.
1. The intersection of Melbourne Street, Lawes Street and
Pitnacree Road would be upgraded to a traffic signalised
intersection (shown at left).
2. Melbourne Street between the New England Highway and
Pitnacree Road would be improved to encourage traffic to
use this link. The intersection of Melbourne Street and the
New England Highway would be upgraded to provide an
additional turning lane for vehicles turning right from the
highway towards Pitnacree Road, and a separate turn lane
for vehicles turning left from Melbourne Street towards
Newcastle. These intersections would have signage to
encourage their use.
3.To ensure the appropriate use of Lawes Street and
local streets in East Maitland, the RTA, Council and
community representatives have considered traffic
management measures.These include:
Narrowing traffic lanes to separate through traffic from
parking and cyclists.
Providing more crossing opportunities for pedestrians,
including a signalised crossing near the schools.
4.Traffic volumes on these local streets would be monitored
after the opening of the project.
Community consultation
The community liaison group has reformed to assist in the
development of the proposal.
The group meets to discuss the progress of the project focusing
on the specialist reports from the environmental assessment
as they become available.The specialist reports include:
Traffic modelling of East Maitland.
Modelling potential flood levels with the new road
and bridge in place to assist with the design of
floodwater and drainage measures.
Flora and fauna assessment.
Heritage assessment.
Socio-economic assessment.
Noise assessment.
A sub-group of the community liaison group focussed on
how to manage traffic impacts in East Maitland. This sub-
group has members from outside the community liaison
group including representatives from the local council,
schools and local businesses.
The group has reviewed the traffic modelling of East Maitland
and helped to develop a scheme that encourages drivers
to use the Melbourne Street – New England Highway
connection.
The group then considered what would be an appropriate
road environment in Lawes Street. The group recognised
that any treatment in Lawes Street would impact both local
and through traffic alike. It was agreed that minimal
treatments were initially preferable, with the possibility of
upgrading the measures if required.
Your thoughts on these measures in East Maitland
Community information sessions on these local area traffic
management proposals for East Maitland will be held at the
following locations and times:
East Maitland Library
3 Garnett Road
East Maitland
Saturday 15 July 2006 from 9.30 am to 12 noon
Stockland Shoping Centre
Green Hills, Molly Morgan Drive
East Maitland
(Lower car park entrance near Prouds)
Saturday 22 July 2006 from 9.30 am to 12 noon
Benefits of a new crossing
The proposal would provide Maitland with a new central
road corridor connecting East Maitland to Bolwarra and
Largs, bypassing the Maitland CBD. Subsequently, the villages
of Lorn and Morpeth will enjoy reduced through traffic.
Motorists using this route will benefit from travel time and
travel distance savings compared to using the existing
crossings at Belmore and Morpeth bridges. This project
would reduce traffic volumes using the heritage listed
Morpeth Bridge.
North of the river, residents located midway between the
two existing crossings (such as Bolwarra Heights and
Largs) gain the greatest benefits in time and distance
savings, with a more direct connection.Those with a local
destination such as East Maitland and Tenambit will have an
alternative route to the Belmore Bridge and the New
England Highway.
The proposed route provides greater travel time savings
and travel distance benefits compared to the other
options.This provides greater savings in vehicle operating
costs and reduction of motor vehicle emissions.
The proposal will save drivers 10,500 km of travel per day(in 2016).This is almost twice the distance that would be
saved by drivers using the western options previously
considered, and a saving of approximately 2.5 tonnes of
greenhouse gases per day.
The RTA, Maitland Council representatives
and community have looked at ways
to manage traffic.
This newsletter contains this information
and details of an information morning
to meet the study team.
Planning for a new crossing of the Hunter River at Maitland commenced in January 2003.
In November 2004, the NSW Government announced the selection of the eastern route as
the preferred option for the third Hunter River crossing at Maitland. $6 million has been set
aside in 2006/07 for the continued planning and to commence construction of this project.
This update provides information about local traffic proposals.
Current field activities include:
Completion of the levee investigations (to refine the flood model that
assesses potential flood impacts and how to avoid or mitigate these).
Geotechnical testing at the road and bridge sites (including the river
bed) to assist bridge design.
REFINE THE CONCEPT DESIGN
Range of environmental studies.Community consultation:
community liaison group, discussion with landowners,Council and government agencies.
Community consultation:ongoing discussions with the community liaison group and stakeholders.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The project can proceed when approval has been granted.The community will be informed about approval and any special conditions that apply.
APPROVAL
�
DISPLAY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
��
What happens next
The next steps in this project are shown below:
All information in correspondence is collected for the sole purpose of assisting in theassessment of this proposal.The information may be used by the RTA and/or theRTA’s project contractors.All information received, including names and addresses ofrespondents, may be published in subsequent documents unless clear indication isgiven in the correspondence that all or part of that information is not to be published.
Shou
lder
Tabl
e dr
ain
(w
here
req
uire
d)
Flat
bat
ters
(
to a
llow
for
culti
vatio
n)
Nor
thbo
und
tra
ffic
lane
Sout
hbou
nd t
raffi
c la
ne
Shou
lder
Seal
ed s
houl
der
Flat
bat
ters
(
to a
llow
for
culti
vatio
n)
Nor
thbo
und
tra
ffic
lane
Sout
hbou
nd t
raffi
c la
ne
Seal
ed s
houl
der
Hunter River
PROPOSED ROUTE – Subject to environmental assessment and ongoing consultation with landowners
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION – BRIDGE
EAST MAITLAND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT A
Shou
lder
Nor
thbo
und
tra
ffic
lane
Sout
hbou
nd t
raffi
c la
ne
Shou
lder
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION – FLAT ROAD
TYPICAL CROSS SECTION – GLENARVON ROAD
DETAIL OF PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT AT PATERSON ROAD
A
NEWENGLAND HIGHWAY
MAIN NORTHERN RA ILWAY
NEWCASTLE STREET
MELBOURNEST
REET
CUMBERLAND STREET
FLAT ROADFLAT ROADPATERSON ROAD
LAWES STREET
MOR
PETH
ROAD
P ITNACREE
RO
AD
H IGH STREET
HUN
TER
RIV
ER
PATERSON
ROADLoss of parking on Melbourne
Street between Tyrrell Street and New England Highway.
No right turn out ofMelbourne Street intoNew England Highwayduring peak periods.
Proposed traffic signals.
Proposed traffic signals.
One lane in each direction in Lawes Street with traffic calming
measures and planting.
One lane in each direction in Lawes Street with traffic calming
measures and planting.
New parallel parking createdbetween Tyrrell and Riley streets.
Proposed pedestrian refuge.
Two right turn lanesfor access to
Melbourne Street.
Loss of parking on thewestern side of New
England Highway .
No left turn intoMelbourne Street
from highway.
Proposed intersection
Proposed intersection
Proposed intersection
Proposed intersection
Proposed roundabout
NEW
EN
GLAN
DH
IGH
WAY
(NEW
CAST
LESTR
EET)
LAWES
STREET
RILEY
STR
EET
TYRRELL
STREET
MELBOURNE STREET
GRANT STREET
BANKS STREET
WILLIAM STREET
KING STREET
GEORGE STREET
PITN
AC
REE
ROAD
MAIN
NO
RTH
ERN
RAILW
AY
Existing on-road cycle lane. Existing on-road cycle lane.
The proposed route
The 5 km long route bypasses
Pitnacree village and includes an
upgrade of the existing rail bridge
crossing on Pitnacree Road.
The proposed route is a single
carriageway, two lane road (one
lane in each direction). Sealed road
shoulders are suitable for on-road
cyclists, providing a cycle link
between Bolwarra and East
Maitland.
GLENARVONROAD
Separate left turn bay for access to New England Highway.
E
D
C
B
E
D
C
B
Right turn bay foraccess to Riley Street.
