Confused approach

Since 2010 the Comment News has run numerous reports on the intersection, which Chez Greig drives through twice a day.

‘The roundabout is crazy; it’s common knowledge around here,’ she said.

‘I go through it at 7.15am or 7.30am and still I’m always seven or eight cars back, sometimes more.’

She said new slip lanes installed last year diverted some traffic, but also caused confusion.

Drivers coming from the Roe Highway side of Nicholson Road to enter the roundabout failed to see that the left lane was straight-through only.

She said signage was inadequate and drivers were turning right from that lane into the paths of cars already occupying the lane.

She said authorities should either increase signage or allow drivers to turn right from the middle lane.

‘People are doing it anyway,’ she said.

Ms Greig said traffic metering signals planned at one stage for the roundabout would help the situation.

Gosnells MLA Chris Tallentire said Main Roads WA had ‘clawed back’ the $486,000 initially granted for these and it was a ‘bad decision’.

Main Roads said after the slip lanes were built safety had improved and congestion decreased, which was why installing traffic metering signals was deferred pending further monitoring.

The City of Gosnells backed this decision.

Chief executive Ian Cowie said traffic was still very high, but works at the roundabout and at the next roundabout down (Bannister, Nicholson and Wilfred roads) had significantly reduced delays.

He said if congestion got to a point at which traffic signals should be considered again, the City would liaise with MRWA to seek funding.

‘The signage and line marking has been modified in discussion with Main Roads to reduce any confusion,’ he said.

‘The City is not aware that the signs and line marking are dangerous and will have a clearer picture when more detailed crash statistics become available towards the end of 2014.’