MELTING MADNESS REGIONAL REMINDER TRAFFIC TECH
Only in Australia they say! Well the
tagline might just live up to the
hype after a major NSW highway
began to melt earlier this month as
temperatures reached new records
across the state. Regional Victoria has recorded its
lowest number of road deaths since
records began, though drivers are
being warned to remain vigilant on rural
roads into 2019. Dynamic congestion-busting traffic lights
at one of the busiest roundabouts on the
Sunshine Coast have been switched on.
The conditions were so extreme
that the bitumen on the Oxley
Highway near Wauchope, just west
of Port Macquarie, began melting
on Thursday January 17th causing
major delays and tricky conditions
for motorists to navigate.
Thankfully Walcha Council were able
to use water from a nearby river to
cool the pavement and provide relief
for drivers so that the road could
ultimately remain open, albeit at
reduced speeds.
“Roads and Maritime Services
acknowledge water is a scarce
resource at this time, however it
is required to ensure the safety of
motorists and keep the road open,”
a spokeswoman said in a statement.
The team has continuing to work
with Walcha Council in recent
weeks to identify and carry out
further work, taking into account
appropriate weather conditions
required for this treatment.
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ISSUE 15 2018 / WWW.AFMA.NET.AU
Minister for Roads, Road Safety and
the TAC Jaala Pulford last month joined
representatives from the Transport
Accident Commission and Regional
Roads to reflect on road trauma in
regional Victoria in 2018.
Data released by the Transport
Accident Commission today shows
that 109 people lost their lives on
Victoria’s regional roads in 2018, 47
fewer than in 2017 and 29 less than
the previous record low of 138 in 2008.
“Any reduction in the number of people
dying on our roads is always welcome
but the sad fact remains that there are
far too many rural families starting the
New Year without a loved one,” Ms
Pulford said.
In 2018, Victoria also introduced the
toughest penalties for drink and drug
driving in Australia, and introduced
tough new sanctions for high-level
speeding, as part of sweeping changes
to make our roads safer.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Mark Bailey said the $1 million metered
lights would cut waiting times at peak
periods at the Caloundra Road, Nicklin
Way and Pelican Waters Boulevard
roundabout.
“The signals will reduce delays across all
legs of the roundabout,” Mr Bailey said.
“Unlike normal traffic lights, the metering
signals will only operate when traffic
builds up, this will allow traffic to freely
enter the roundabout from the busiest
approach and reduce excess queuing.”
Motorists will see two things as they
approach the roundabout – the first is
an illuminated electronic sign advising
if the metering signals are in use, and
the second is the actual roundabout
metering signals.
The signals will have yellow and red
phases, and once the signals are off,
normal road rules apply for giving way
when entering a roundabout.