To improve safety and traffic flow, Surf Coast Shire Council is upgrading the intersection of Bristol Road and Surf Coast Highway in Torquay, which will include the installation of traffic lights.
As part of the intersection upgrade:
- Traffic will be able to turn right, as well as left, from Bristol Road onto Surf Coast Highway (currently only buses can turn right here).
- There will be new signalised pedestrian crossings on both Bristol Road and the highway, making it much safer for people to cross.
- Traffic from the intersection will be able to enter the service road (near St Therese Church), however service road traffic will need to use the Zeally Bay Road intersection to enter the highway.
- A new footpath will be constructed on the western side of the highway, from the pedestrian crossing to the northern boundary of the church site.
Tenders for the works have been advertised, with works expected to commence mid year and be completed by March/April 2025.
“I know there can be an initial reluctance for more traffic lights in town, but these will certainly make a positive difference for so many. With the petrol station on the corner, it’s a busy intersection. Traffic lights will make it flow a lot better,” Mayor Cr Liz Pattison said.
“It means all those driving home from the supermarket and shops will be able to turn right out of Bristol Road onto the highway.”
“It will also create a much-needed, safe highway crossing point. There are no other signalised crossings at this end of the highway and often I see kids and teenagers trying to navigate their way across the highway there,” she said.
Community engagement was completed in 2021 and as part of this changes were made to the project in response to feedback, such as the addition of one-way access from the intersection to the service road.
This project, which will help cater for recent and future growth, is a part of the Torquay Jan Juc Development Contribution Plan, a long-term plan which developers are required to contribute to.
