Braidwood is being squeezed. Its beating heart is aching as locals watch the new crossings spread across the Wallace Street. It’s a double gastric banding which just may make town a leaner place.
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However, it has to be remembered that 1570 people signed a petition organised by the Braidwood Seniors Association Inc. for a new pedestrian crossing. The current designs were on display and seemed to be a good compromise negotiated with the RMS. This is what we wanted.
Yet, many people have expressed much regret at the oversized concrete blisters that are still being constructed. One local commented “You could land a helicopter on them.”
Around 17 parking places have been lost. There are vital for small business. Local people will have to learn to park smarter – business owners and employees need to leave the parks outside their shops for customers.
The crossings are yet to be landscaped but the excess of concrete does not fit comfortably with the heritage streetscape. And why was the crossing not lined up with the access to the National Theatre – our most used public building? Small aesthetic decisions like this matter. Instead the crossing will always look a bit awkward, and our building less important. Instead, it is lined up with the wooden gutter covering outside the Bakery, presumable to save a few dollars.
The crossings are supposed to be for the people (pedestrians), not for the cars- pedestrian will have the right of way. Yet the design of the concrete blisters will confuse through traffic and visitors. In similar crossings in Goulburn and Queanbeyan it is the cars that have the right of way. How long will it be before the pedestrian rights are removed here as well?
The designs are yet to be tested. Come the summer holidays the full effects of the crossings will truly become apparent. Some form on complementary traffic management will be needed in MacKellar, Elrington and Monkittee Streets which will become more dangerous than they already are.
And there’s not room here to discuss the full ramifications of the proposed roundabout.
We did ask for it, but it now appears what we don’t need is the temporary band-aid solution of a double gastric banding of a perfectly well sized and beautiful street. We do need real planning to start for a bypass.
