Traffic lights will soon replace the Nine Ways roundabout at Kingsford, in preparation for further construction work for Sydney’s light rail project.
The change, which takes effect from June 30 at 10PM, means the start of work towards the eventual construction of the new Kingsford Light Rail interchange, a new transport hub that connects the south-east community to the public transport network.
Transport for NSW Coordinator General Marg Prendergast said that the move to traffic lights would mark the beginnings of significant change in the area.
“The Kingsford Nine Ways roundabout is one of the busiest roundabouts in Sydney. When the traffic signals turn on next Friday night we will see the beginning of the transformation of Kingsford,” Ms Prendergast said.
“We’re upgrading this intersection to make way for the new Kingsford Light Rail interchange which will revitalise the area and the surrounding shopping and entertainment precinct.”
Several road changes will come into place when the switch is made to traffic lights. Vehicles will no longer be able to turn right from Anzac Parade to Rainbow Street, or from Gardeners Road and Rainbow Street to Anzac Parade.
“I urge all motorists and pedestrians to be aware of the upcoming changes and to plan their journey ahead of next Friday,” Ms Prendergast said.
“We know that this will be a big change for the locals who use this roundabout each day, which is why we need motorists to take extra care around the changed road conditions, allow extra travel time and follow signage and traffic controllers in place.”
The currently existing pedestrian crossings will remain in place, accompanied by additional signage that will be installed.
Buses services along Anzac Parade will remain according to the normal timetable, while commuters have been asked to expect some minor impacts to some services on Gardeners Road that currently use Nine Ways roundabout to access Anzac Parade.
High frequency street trams passing at roadway level will only create even longer delays at this 9-way intersection at Kingsford.
This current “fix” will only increase congestion. Street Trams will have to wait their turn to cross the intersection. Trams in Adelaide have to wait their turn a the 5 way intersection of Adams Street, Port Road & Park Terrace at Hindmarsh in Greater Adelaide.
Pity the NSW traffic authorities did not follow:
* London Light Rail and put the street tram tracks to go under the “magic roundabout” intersection.
* Columbus Circle at 8th Ave and 59th St with street railway tracks moved to go under the roundabout with a station railway station that serves the surrounding area.
I believe Mr Hamilton in unduly pessimistic. With the removal of the roundabout and the right turns, there will only be three movements available. These are Anzac Parade North and South, Anzac Parade North and Bunnerong Road, and Gardeners Road and Rainbow Street. Add to these the available left turns. More use will be made of General Bridges Crescent, Sturt Street and the car park linking Rainbow Street and Anzac Parade South near Willis Lane as by pass routes to cater for other turning movements.
If anything, traffic congestion will be reduced. Even better, if the southbound trams get absolute traffic light priority and the departures of northbound trams from the terminus are arranged so that both cross on the same phase – remembering that this will also mean the Anzac Parade North and South movements will occur at the same time.
London Light Rail? Perhaps London Tramlink? – and I am fairly certain that there have been no street tram tracks put under any ‘magic roundabout intersection’. There are no tram subways on London Tramlink.
Hi Dudley,
My thesis is adding street trams and street trains to the mix of vehicles going across level crossings does not reduce congestion. Experience in Adelaide
* Bowden to North Terrace by train with one level crossing is 4 minutes.
* Bowden to North Terrace by Street Tram with seven level crossings is 15 minutes. Trams line up to get across the Port Rd, Inner Route, Adam St. tram level crossing during rush periods.
I was referring to Docklands Light Rail. Started operation in 1987 That has no street trams. It has 117 million annual ridership with 38 km of track DLR is completely grade separated and is fully automatic, driverless. The much of the track goes through tunnels in addition to elevated tracks above roadways. This has a high frequency using 149 x 2 or 3 carriage “trainsets”
You are referring to Tramlink. It began operation in 2000 “One of the factors leading to its creation was that the London Borough of Croydon has no London Underground service.”
It has 27 million annual ridership with 28 km of track. It has 36 x 2-carriage trams.
Much of the track uses old railway right of ways.
From Woodside to near Sandilands (routes 1, 2 and 4) and from near Sandilands almost to Lloyd Park (route 3), Tramlink follows the former Woodside and South Croydon Railway, including the Park Hill (or Sandilands) tunnels.