Princes Highway and South Street traffic improvements

Safety concerns at this intersection were raised by the community during consultation for the Milton and Ulladulla Traffic Study in 2018. Transport has reviewed the key findings of the Traffic Study and has considered the current and anticipated future conditions of the Princes Highway in this location, and traffic signals remain the preferred option.

Transport is proposing to install traffic signals at the Princes Highway and South Street intersection to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow in Ulladulla. Additional pedestrian ramps are also proposed to be installed near the Wason Street intersection to help improve pedestrian access to the town centre.

The proposal includes:

• Installing traffic signals and associated structures at the Princes Highway and South Street intersection
• Installing pedestrian ramps near the Princes Highway and Wason Street intersection
• Converting some of the 45-degree parking spots on the Princes Highway to permanent parallel parking spots, resulting in 24 reduced spots in the area, This change is required for the traffic signals to be installed.

In 2017, Transport for NSW undertook the Milton and Ulladulla Traffic Study and carried out consultation with the community to gain feedback on their concerns about traffic and safety on the Princes Highway in Milton and Ulladulla.

During the consultation period (December 2017 to January 2018), we received 418 comments from 204 people including:

• 135 local residents
• 38 motorists
• 16 local business owners; and
• 2 cyclists

The responses received provide valuable insight into customer experiences and needs, and identified several location requiring assessment in relation to capacity constraints, pedestrian and cyclist accessibility, safety and parking impacts.

Safety concerns about the Princes Highway and South Street intersection were raised by the community during consultation on the Milton and Ulladulla Traffic study in 2018.

Concerns raised by the community included:

• The difficulty of making a right-hand turn into South Street (when heading south on the Princes Highway), and unsafe movements from all intersection points, resulting in motorists taking risks.
• Unsafe, with motorists taking risks at the intersection.
• 45-degree angle car parking on the Princes Highway restricts visibility when turning onto the Princes Highway from South Street.
• Uncontrolled movements delay through vehicles whilst waiting for gaps in traffic.
• Pedestrian crossing desire line due to surrounding land use (cafe's, retail, shop rear parking from Wason St).
• Restricted visibility and 'frequent near misses'.

Transport identified traffic signals at the South Street intersection and pedestrian ramps at Wason Street as the most effective way to increase safety for all road users (including pedestrians) in the area. Since 2018 when the Traffic Study was carried out, Transport has reviewed the key findings and has considered the current and anticipated future conditions of the Princes Highway in this location.

Planning for the Milton Ulladulla bypass continues, and Transport has factored in future anticipated traffic volumes and pedestrian safety at this location once the bypass is built. The bypass will remove some traffic from the highway, however safety concerns at this intersection will remain without an intersection upgrade.

All options considered during the Traffic Study have been recently reviewed. Based on the findings, the installation of traffic signals remains the most effective option to deliver the safest community outcome.