South Goulburn service centre traffic congestion 'begs solution'

But the South Goulburn resident gained new insight on Easter weekend as he watched vehicles around the service centres off Hume Street.

"In 50 years of driving I have never seen so much dangerous driving. It was absolute mayhem," Mr Barton said.

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On trips to Canberra on Good Friday and Easter Sunday he witnessed cars queued for 100 metres on Hume Street waiting to turn right into food outlets and a fuel station on Sowerby Street. A similar bottleneck occurred as motorists tried to exit from this area on to Hume Street.

If that wasn't bad enough, Sowerby Street was lined with vehicles and car parks were jam-packed.

"Four vehicles parked in the no-stopping zone at the end of Ducks Lane and opposite Bunnings, Red Rooster and the Caltex service station," he said.

"This forces users of Ducks Lane to pull up to the double lines, thereby risking collision with vehicles exiting those places. This area is not policed."

Mr Barton alerted the council to the danger of trucks parking on this Ducks Lane stretch some two years ago. The no stopping signs were erected in response.

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At the Caltex service station on the western side of Hume Street, he was aghast to see vehicles queued for fuel jutting out on to Ducks Lane, forcing passing motorists over to the oncoming lane.

Over the road, he saw cars with boat trailers parked in the Tribe Brewery entrance.

"A vehicle which approached the roundabout at speed failed to give way to a car turning into Ducks Lane," he said.

"This is a common occurrence. One turns right there very carefully."

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Mr Barton moved to Ducks Lane before the Hume Street roundabout was constructed. He believed the traffic infrastructure in the area would be fine if traffic was controlled but it was getting much busier, particularly on weekends.

"I don't know what the solution is but I think traffic lights into the service centre (on Sowerby Street) would help to slow down cars at the roundabout and allow vehicles to emerge safely from Sowerby Street without dodging the intersection," he said.

While extension of Lockerby Street to Tait Crescent and over to Finlay Road from this side has helped local access, Mr Barton said many visitors wouldn't know about this option. In any case, most simply wanted a quick meal before hitting the freeway again.

"At least for Run-O-Waters residents, if there was a second access they wouldn't have to come down this way," he said.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett said plans were advancing to link up Mary Street and Pockley Road, via Shannon Drive, to provide what we described as a "third access" for Run-O-Waters residents. Negotiations with a developer in the area are underway on how it would link in infrastructure arrangements and his plans.

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Mr Bennett also agreed with Mr Barton that the Hume Street service centre area was "chaos."

"It's one of our frustrations with Transport for NSW (which owns the road)," he said.

"They don't believe the traffic flow and numbers warrant any further changes. We believe they do and that it is a very dangerous area when traffic is moving. I drove through there at Easter and saw it firsthand.

"We understand the difficulties but we're trying to convince Transport for NSW it is a priority."

The council previously called for a traffic study of the area to strike a better solution. Mr Bennett said the organisation had some ideas but wanted to thrash out options that were "reasonably priced and effective" with the authority.

"We will see more traffic up there and we need Transport for NSW to look at it seriously, not during the week when it's quieter, but on weekends," he said.

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