RMS to implement changes at Tuross intersection

RMS representatives met with members of the Tuross Head Progress Association at Eurobodalla Shire Council offices in Moruya last Thursday.

Association secretary John Tilbrook said the representatives were quite amiable and keen to make the changes that engineers said would improve safety.

The stopped short of lowering the speed limit on the Princes Highway to 80km/h with Mr Tilbrook saying the RMS was adamant about maintaining the current 100km/h limit, he said.

They did however agree to replace the current give-way sign on Hector McWilliam Drive with a stop sign and to move the stop line further out onto the Princes Highway to improve visibility for exiting drivers, he said.

RMS was also going to put in a concrete median at the end of Hector McWilliam Drive and also a larger warning sign further back warning drivers of the upcoming t-intersection and stop sign.

The final improvement agreed to was lengthening the turn-lane for southbound traffic turning into Tuross Head, to give those and passing vehicles more space.

Mr Tilbrook said work on these improvements could begin as soon as next week and would be complete by mid-year, with funds already allocated.

He said the RMS produced crash statistics that showed four out of the five serious accidents in recent year’s had been caused by the drivers exiting out onto the highway from Tuross Head, and that blocked vision by cars waiting to turn into Hector McWilliam Drive had been a big factor.

The RMS was also going to continue monitoring traffic flows at the intersection and also movements at the truck and bus lay-bys on the highway.

Mr Tilbrook said the progress association was pleased with the developments, but would continue to follow the issue closely and raise funds for further improvements.

Also present at Thursday’s meeting were mayor Liz Innes and a representative from the office of Federal Member Ann Sudmalis, as well as other shire councillors and council staff from the traffic division and committee.