Intersection intervention wanted in Shorehaven Estate Alkimos

Since moving to Shorehaven Estate in August 2014, Mrs Brewell said she had witnessed three car accidents at the junction of Marmion Avenue and Shorehaven Boulevard.

“Granted just minor ones, but how long is it going to be until there is a major one?” she asked. “There are cars flying down Marmion Avenue at 80km/h and people getting frustrated are taking undue risks due to the fact that it takes so long to get out of that junction.

“It’s like taking your life into your hands every time you pull out there at the moment.”

Main Roads data showed two crashes had been recorded at the junction between January 2010 and December 2014, though Mrs Brewell said two more occurred this year.

She found support for changes to the junction via a residents’ Facebook group and took the matter to City of Wanneroo and estate developer Peet Limited but said she found the responses “lacking”.

“People have noted their concern about the danger of turning out there in the mornings and that it needs a right-hand turn traffic light arrow to turn out of there or a roundabout at the very least,” she said.

Mrs Brewell said the issue had become worse since the opening of facilities including a medical centre and petrol station on Shorehaven Boulevard.

“Every week there’s more and more people moving in here, more tradies coming in to work (and) now even people who don’t live in the estate are starting to come in here too,” she said.

“It’s the only entry and exit to the estate, we don’t have another option.”

She said nearby estates Trinity at Alkimos, Eden Beach and Alkimos Beach had a roundabout or traffic lights at their entry point and was disappointed Peet had not created this for Shorehaven.

“I would really like Peet to step up,” she said.

“The bottom line is people want to be safe in the estate that they live in and not feel like they’re taking their lives in their hands every time they come in or exit the estate.”

Peet chief executive Brendan Gore said it was important for residents and visitors to enter and exit the estate safely.

“The Shorehaven project team has been part of discussions with residents about traffic conditions on Marmion Avenue and is always keen to assist where possible,” he said.

“Any proposed changes to the current junction would be a matter for government, who regularly reviews road safety.”

Junction is safe: City

THE City of Wanneroo says an investigation found the Shorehaven Boulevard and Marmion Avenue junction was safe.

Assets director Harminder SinghOK said the City’s transport and traffic team investigated concerns raised by Shorehaven Estate residents.

“The City uses an evidence-based approach to ensure infrastructure upgrades are done at locations which offer the greatest benefit to the community,” he said.

“The City believes the junction is safe but will continue to monitor traffic volumes there as the area grows.

“As the City’s northern corridor develops, additional intersections will be constructed on Marmion Avenue.”

Mr Singh said one planned upgrade was to install traffic lights at the junction of the future Alkimos Drive and Marmion Avenue, about 250m south of Shorehaven Boulevard, but timing would depend on the area’s rate of development.

The yet to be built Alkimos Drive forms part of the Alkimos Eglinton District Structure Plan and the Local Planning Policy 3.8 Marmion Avenue Arterial Road Access, which are both due for review in 2017.

Residents also noted concerns with pedestrians crossing Marmion Avenue, particularly children, but Mr Singh said pedestrian refuges allowed people to cross safely in stages.

“Based on the success of pedestrian refuges on other sections of Marmion Avenue which have higher vehicle and pedestrian volumes, the City believes the existing refuges meet demand and safety requirements,” he said.

He also said the speed limit of 80km/h was appropriate for balancing the road’s function as a direct distributor road with pedestrian safety.

While Mrs Brewell said the installation of traffic lights at the future Alkimos Drive would probably ease traffic flow, she did not anticipate it occurring within the next five years.

“That’s great forethought for what’s happening in the future but I’m more concerned for what’s happening now,” she said.

“It’s quite clear that that junction is not sufficient for traffic in the area.”