Lismore’s claim to fame as the city of roundabouts is about to get bigger with the imminent construction of two more roundabouts. 

Hazardous intersections at Orion and Keen streets; and Orion and Diadem streets will soon be made safer using grant money from Federal and State Governments. 

Lismore Mayor Isaac Smith made the announcement today at the Orion and Keen streets intersection.

He said the two grants totalling $789,000 will be used to install roundabouts and other traffic calming devices at the intersections.

“Between 2013 and 2018, there were six accidents, including one serious one, at the Diadem and Orion streets intersection and five accidents at the Keen and Orion intersection.” Mayor Smith said.

“One accident on this spot was tragically a disaster.

“This intersection is on the corner of a school, the cathedral and the CBD of Lismore – it’s a vital spot to have road proofed and improve the interchange of traffic and reduce the risk of future accidents.

“A new roundabout will improve safety for motorists and importantly also for school children who are heavy users of both intersections as they get to and from school.”

Work at both intersections will include a one-lane roundabout, new concrete footpath, pedestrian fencing, concrete medians and kerb blisters, and upgraded street lighting.

The new roundabouts will complement recent roadworks undertaken to fix adjoining sections of these streets under Council’s urban roads budget.

The Diadem Street roundabout is in the hospital precinct and Mayor Smith said it was a busy street that just had an upgrade itself.

“It’s getting busier too, so to have those improvements to foot traffic and parking is good."

Mayor Smith said progressing the upgrades was important for Lismore “as we come out of coronavirus restrictions.”

Construction of the roundabouts is expected to start in July.

The grants are from the Federal Government Blackspot program and the State Government’s Safer Roads programs.

Mayor Smith said the funding was awarded to roads in an unsafe condition.

“Once accidents are reported to police, it triggers the funding to improve them,” he said.