A long-time close observer of traffic in Merimbula’s CBD believes improving the constant gridlock could be solved by reducing crossover and impeding of traffic flows at a major intersection.
The local business community have angrily rejected changes in the CBD being proposed by Bega Valley Shire Council.
Former Penguin Muse caretaker Phillip Roach said the traffic flow at the corner of Park, Market and Beach Streets…known locally as the Maccas intersection…is a disaster.
“When you get the green lights at Park and Market Streets there is a considerable amount of northbound traffic that wants to cross into Market Street that’s held up by the traffic coming down Park Street,” Mr Roach said.
“Traffic doesn’t move. If you’re in Beach Street there’s traffic travelling south down Market Street that blocks that intersection.” he said.
“It’s just a mess. It needs cleaning out.”
Mr Roach has put forward an alternative to Bega Valley Shire Council’s widely panned upgrade plan.
He said there is a better solution for the intersection where Maccas is.
“On the green light at Market Street that’s the only traffic that moves. It can move to any Monaro, Park, Mark and Beach Streets unimpeeded,” Mr Roach said.
“Then when that gets it red light Park Street traffic southbound can move in its directions anywhere it wants. There’s no crossing over of vehicles at the same point in time and that idea would flow onto other traffic movements,” he said.
Mr Roach believes his plan also wouldn’t impact the current number of existing parking spaces, which business operators are against being moved. He said it includes minor changes to the current off-street car park on the waterfront as you turn into Beach Street.
“I would alter that so they become perpendicular car parks. That’s a bit of a choke point because people drive along, they’re looking for a park. It’s hard to see where a park is so they impede the traffic on the road looking for their car park where as if the parking there was nose to the curb as it is further along Beach Street, you drive past and you can see easily see if there is a parking spot or not,” he said.
Merimbula locals and visitors are being urged to become investigative photographers and videographers this weekend.
Temporary traffic arrangements will be in place in the CBD for the annual Merimbula Sun Festival.
The former caretaker of Penguin Muse Phillip Roach has put forward an alternative plan to Bega Valley Shire Council’s unpopular proposal.
“If people can take photos from around Merimbula. Park Street, Main Street etc to show what happens with all this additional traffic and so forth that would be good data to put to council so we can do a dry run of what will happen if we force all the Market Street traffic to go up Park Street.”
