A report to the May meeting of SEATS (South East Australia Transport Strategy) claims that the 80km speed zone around Braidwood are costing business $400,000 per annum.
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The report by Eurobodalla Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services Warren Sharpe says “Minister Duncan Gay MP temporarily lowered the speed limits either side of Braidwood. Costing business $400k per annum in delay costs. Solution is a combination of protective fence and/or tree work. This has introduced a significant safety hazard by change of speed zone at end of eastbound overtaking lane (on west side of Braidwood) causing overtaking to be transferred to less safe areas east of Braidwood. Eurobodalla Shire Council will write to the Minister to ask that works to allow restoration of the speed zone to 100km/hr be undertaken.”
As part of the Kings Highway Route Safety Review, the Minister for Roads and Ports announced the existing 100km/h speed limit on the Kings Highway for the full length of both avenues of trees (2.8km east of the existing 50km/h zone and approximately 1.5km on the Canberra side of Braidwood) would be reduced to 80km/h.
Since this was actioned in 2013, there have been no major crashes in the area, and no vehicles leaving the road at the Solus Street bend entering Braidwood, despite the poor state of the road surface.
Palerang Mayor Cr Pete Harrison said “ the figures are derived from data provided by RMS, however, just like the absence of any 'modelling' for pedestrian crossings in environments like Wallace Street, I suspect those figures do not take into account the actual situation in Braidwood.”
“As I understand it, the RMS figures are related to delays associated with roadwork speed limits on open roads, and thus don't take into account the fact that immediately after the 80kph zones in question, traffic is generally slowed to well under the town speed limit of 50kph as it navigates Braidwood (whatever direction it's travelling).”
Cr Harrison said “My quick calculations suggest that travelling at 80kph vs 100kph for 5km would take an extra 45 seconds, and my observations have been that there is far greater variability than this in just travelling through Braidwood. None of this adds up to anything like $400k pa by my reckoning.” “Regardless, I'd hazard a guess that delays on the Clyde cost business much more than the speed limits around Braidwood” Cr Harrison added.
Member for Monaro John Barilaro said “I am strongly supportive of maintaining the new speed limits at the approaches into Braidwood.”
“The changes have not only provided a safer environment for Braidwood residents, but also the many travellers who pass through the town” he added. “I will be pushing the Minister to maintain these speed limits, even after the scheduled hazard minimisation work has been completed.”
