STATE MP Janelle Saffin is urging locals to give feedback to the NSW Government on significant changes it is making to its February 2019 election pledge to fix traffic congestion and improve safety on the Bruxner Highway in downtown Lismore.

Ms Saffin, who has been pressing the Government to release its plans for public comment, said people remember the election commitment to spend $6 million on traffic lights and improvements to the Bruxner Highway-Dawson Street intersection.

“Transport for NSW and Lismore City Council have carried out investigations and traffic modelling, and now the Transport recommendation is that this upgrade should occur at the Bruxner Highway-Molesworth Street intersection,” Ms Saffin said.

Released days ago, the NSW Transport for NSW report has said the best short term solution, based on the level of funding available and a recent study with Lismore City Council, to ease congestion on the Bruxner Highway as well as improve pedestrian access across is to widen the highway and install traffic lights at the Molesworth Street roundabout.

The initial funding was for traffic lights to be installed at the Dawson Street roundabout. This is now considered a medium-term solution.

The longer-term strategy is to widen Hollingsworth Creek Bridge to four lanes.

“I have been in a continued conversation with NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole’s office and Transport for NSW on this issue, and while it’s good that there is finally some movement, we, as a community of stakeholders, still need to be persuaded.

“All those residents living on the southern side of the highway, in the Girards Hill area, were very keen on the Dawson Street project, so they have to be convinced that Molesworth Street will provide the best long-term solution.”

Ms Saffin said she had lodged Questions on Notices to hold the Government to account on delivering its election commitment and to highlight the congestion of this ‘gateway’ roundabout which copes with 25,000 motorists every day.

Minister Toole’s latest response from March 25 this year read: “Transport for NSW is developing a number of traffic, walking and cycling improvements within Lismore to improve safety and traffic efficiency, and walkability on the Bruxner Highway within the town centre.

“Transport for NSW will invite the community to comment on the proposed improvements shortly. The improvements include new traffic signals in the town centre, which are currently underway and due to be completed by the end of 2021,” Mr Toole answered.

For further information about the proposal, including a design layout, go to https://nswroads.work/molesworthstreet.

You can contact Transport for NSW if you have any questions, would like more information or to comment on the upgrade:

• Phone: 1800 653 092 (business hours)
• Email: region.north@transport.nsw.gov.au
• Write To: Transport for NSW PO Box 576 Grafton NSW 2460