Traffic calming prompts extra road studies

The early signs show the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has succeeded in moves designed to calm traffic on Margaret River’s main street, with the neighbouring road network now catering for more vehicles, which will trigger further work for planners. As reported in April, Shire sustainable development and infrastructure director Nick Logan said further traffic analysis would underpin a review of the town centre road network, which was under perceived additional pressure caused by population growth and COVID-19 tourism. Mr Logan told the Times that recently-collected road use data would need bolstering by formal traffic analysis in the 2021-22 financial year. “We have the data, but to make meaningful conclusions around the implications, this needs a detailed analysis against historical use and projections over time,” Mr Logan said. Mr Logan agreed town centre traffic was increasing. “There is growth in background traffic numbers of which there are a number of likely contributors — background population growth being one,” he said. Traders told the Times parking was now also becoming a concern away from the main street where some parking bays were removed during the redevelopment. Station Road was also experiencing congestion and school drop-off and pick-up times were creating traffic squalls on Wallcliffe Road as well as the education precinct south of the roundabout. Mr Logan said the next step in addressing pressure on the Margaret River CBD would be undertaken once the appropriate planning was in place. Meanwhile, the Shire council also debated the introduction of timed parking this week. “The road pavement in several streets including Town View Terrace and Willmott Avenue will require reconstruction in coming years due to poor condition, which provides an opportunity to review parking and traffic management arrangements at the same time,” he said. “The intention to look at the wider traffic network also includes consideration of future intersection treatments, such as at the Fearn Avenue/Wallcliffe intersection. “The process of identifying treatment options is expected to be undertaken in the coming financial year, commencing with traffic modelling to determine future requirements.” Councillors and traders have also raised the township’s connection with the namesake river as crucial to future support for the CBD. Mr Logan said two separate processes were under way, which included detailed design for a future pedestrian bridge to the east of the existing river crossing.