Junee prepares for traffic surge as bridge closure nears

A KEY stretch of Seignior Street has been transformed overnight, with new lane markings now in place to help manage the surge in traffic once Junee’s Kemp Street bridge closes tomorrow evening.

An extra southbound lane has been created between the Broadway roundabout and Gaba Tepe Avenue, allowing for the extension of the right-turn lane at the busy intersection.

The move will enable more vehicles to queue when the boom gates activate at the nearby Olympic Highway level crossing — without blocking through traffic on the roundabout.

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Up to 6,000 vehicles are expected to use the central level crossing daily during the bridge’s 18-month closure, up from a current average of around 4,200.

Council documents warn that peak periods could see 300 to 400 vehicles passing through per hour, with up to 30 vehicles rerouting or queuing during a typical four-to-five-minute boom gate closure.

• READ MORE: Kemp Street bridge to close 6pm Friday
• READ MORE: Bridge demolition timeline revealed

To make room for the wider road, nose-to-kerb parking on the western side of Seignior Street — adjacent to the Junee Hotel — has been temporarily converted to parallel parking.

The changes, which came into effect early this morning, have resulted in the loss of around nine spaces, while approximately ten angled bays remain directly in front of the hotel.

Before the changes on Seignior Street | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

After the changes on Seignior Street | Photo: © The Junee Bulletin

Council says the modified parking arrangement is temporary and may not be required for the full duration of the bridge project, depending on the success of alternate heavy vehicle detours currently being explored with Inland Rail.

Line-marking and traffic control works will continue overnight tonight ahead of the Kemp Street bridge’s final closure at 6pm tomorrow (Friday, 5 September).

For full details on the bridge’s closure, demolition, traffic changes, detours and transport options, click here.