Roundabout proposed for risky intersection

A NOTORIOUS intersection in Junee could soon be about to undergo a major overhaul, as council ponders ways it can reduce the number of crashes and improve safety at the site.

Junee Shire Council has endorsed a concept design for what would be the town’s third multiple-exit roundabout, to replace the intersection where the Olympic Highway meets Main Street at the rail underpass.

According to Council, the intersection sees an average of 1-2 incidents per year.

Now the accident-prone site — which varies 1.5m in height — could be levelled and replaced with a roundabout, with a concept design for the new traffic circle presented to, and endorsed by Council at March’s ordinary meeting.

In his report to Council, the Director of Engineering Services, Stephen Targett, said the million-dollar redesign improves site distance and corrects safety concerns that have caused past incidents.

To accommodate the current 1.5m height difference across the site, a stepped retaining batter is also located in the centre of the intersection, limiting and narrowing movements in both directions.

“This is a road safety matter which has been on Council’s and the Local Traffic Committee’s agenda for a long time,” he said.

© The Junee Bulletin

© The Junee Bulletin

Three options were presented to Council to improve safety at the intersection, including closing the intersection entirely, keeping the current format with minor additions or limited vehicles, or replacing the intersection with a roundabout.

The proposed roundabout would be built to support Higher Mass Limit, 26m B-double access, and would be mountable for larger vehicles.

However, vehicles over 15 metres in length travelling south from Waterworks Road onto Main Street would be prohibited from turning right onto the Olympic Highway.

Meanwhile, vehicles travelling south on the Olympic Highway would be required to give way to northbound drivers wanting to proceed straight from Main Street onto Waterworks Road.

Northbound traffic would also be forced to give way to all vehicles travelling south from Waterworks Road/Main Street that want to turn right onto the highway.

Concept design endorsed by Junee Shire Council | Image: Junee Shire Council

The project is still in the very early stages, with initial estimates suggesting the proposed design will cost between $1.2 million and $1.5 million to build.

Council has already approved the concept plans, but support and approval will now need to be sought from Transport for NSW.

The Olympic Highway is a major state road, while Main Street is a minor road managed by local government.

Junee Shire Council will need to work with Transport for NSW on further developing the proposed design before both parties can approve the final plans.

© The Junee Bulletin

If the green light is given, it would be Junee’s third roundabout with multiple exits.

The first was installed at the southern end of Broadway Street, where it meets the Olympic Highway (Seignior Street), shortly after the turn of the century.

It remained the only roundabout in Junee for almost 20 years, becoming somewhat of a local landmark in the town, before a second smaller traffic circle was built at the far northern end of Broadway, where it meets Lord and Regent streets in 2020.

The report presented to Council’s meeting in March did not commit Council to any additional funding for the project.

“The intention is that the design can be progressed to detailed design with minimal cost implications for Council and funding can then be obtained,” the report stated.