TWO temporary speed signs will be installed on Hillsborough Drive in Nollamara to deter people from using the road as a “rat run”.
According to residents, Hillsborough and Woodchester roads were often used to avoid congestion on Morley Drive and Wanneroo Road, which has led to a large amount of traffic and speeding on the local roads.
Residents presented a petition signed by 70 residents to the City of Stirling council in April to urge the City to install traffic calming measures along the streets.
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READ NOWFollowing a meeting between residents, Mayor Giovanni Italiano, City engineering design manager Paul Giamov and East Metropolitan MLC Amber-Jade Sanderson, the City decided to install temporary speed signs and speed detectors on Hillsborough Drive.
Construction for permanent measures has been “tentatively’ scheduled for three years’ time.
The City will also conduct a new traffic assessment for Hillsborough Drive.
Woodchester Road resident Gavin Demello said the temporary speed trailer was a good start at addressing the traffic issues in the area.
“It’s definitely disappointing we can’t get it pushed through sooner,” he said.
“Considering there have been a few incidents already, you would think it would be stepped up a little bit as a priority.”
Mr Demello said parked cars were regularly hit and a neighbours’ pet had been killed recently on the road.
Ms Sanderson said the slated 2018-19 budget was too far away for installation of permanent measures.
“They come off Morley Drive doing 70km/h… they fly over the roundabout,” she said.
Mr Giamov said there was justification for traffic calming measures on Hillsborough Drive based on traffic and crash statistics available.
He said while residents wanted permanent measures incorporated into the 2016-17 budget, it was “tentatively” slated for 2018-19 due to competing priorities.
“The City appreciates residents of this road would like to see traffic calming measures installed much quicker than the current scheduled timeframe,” he said.
“However, it would not be fair to the residents along other roads, who have similar concerns for their road, and where traffic and crash statistics indicate that more urgent attention is required, if Hillsborough Drive was elevated ahead of schedule.”
In March, Mr Giamov said a traffic count survey undertaken in November 2014 was “considered applicable now” and a new one was not necessary.
“A number of residents at the meeting claimed there had been infill in the area that may have impacted on the traffic volumes and speeds,” he said.
“Consequently, the City agreed to undertake renewed traffic count surveys along this road to obtain more current traffic data.”
Mr Giamov said after the survey was completed the City would assess Hillsborough Drive again to determine if there was any change in priority for works.
The two signs are to be installed on Hillsborough Drive north of Morley Drive and south of Nollamara Avenue in the next month.