Safe Local Roads and Street
Project 4: Sandy Point
Why this project?
Sandy Point is a small coastal village which is subject to big increases in visitors and traffic during holiday periods. Sandy point has a low level of road infrastructure in line with its coastal village character, with narrow but mostly sealed roads, and minimal footpaths for pedestrians, which means pedestrians are often interacting with vehicle traffic on the roads. Due to its location, visitors to Sandy Point will typically have spent quite a lot of time driving at high speeds over long distances, and it is easy to continue to carry too much speed after entering the town area.
The Sandy Point community has previously reached out to Council with feedback that the town needs more support in managing vehicle speeds to help maintain safety and walkability for all users. Council has developed this project in line with the Safe Systems approach and has the opportunity to deliver needed improvements under this program.
What is involved?
The key feature of the Sandy Point project is the introduction of “mini-roundabouts” at strategic locations throughout the town. The purpose of the change is to break the through-road continuity of Telopea Drive, The Boulevard and Ennisvale Avenue, requiring drivers to slow and consider traffic on side roads and hold more attention toward the road environment and the pedestrians who may also be using it. The roundabouts will be supported by road cushions to maintain safe entry speeds, but not impede walkers or cyclists.
The project will also include some supporting features including greater separation of vehicles and pedestrians at key locations near the main parking area, as well as an upgraded pedestrian crossing between the shops and the main beach entry, and a reduction of the entry speed limit on Telopea Drive from 80km/h to 50km/h, before the current 40km/h area wide speed limit through town.
Will these treatments affect emergency vehicles/caravans/boats?
The road cushions are designed at a width that vehicles with wider wheel spacing on their axles, typical of emergency vehicles or trailers, will be able to line them up and be minimally affected. The roundabouts serve mostly to change the priority at the intersections, the centres will be fully mountable – larger vehicles will be able to simply drive over them to make turns, if safe to do so.
Sandy Point enjoys dark skies at night, will there be new streetlights?
Physical road treatments typically require lighting so that they don’t take drivers by surprise at night. The project intends to minimise the impact of lighting by using existing lighting where available, and otherwise using the existing overhead power pole network to provide new lights with the lowest possible wattage, warm and soft colour temperature lights. Council is currently seeking to use luminaires that are certified by DarkSky.org, and is investigating the potential to use high-technology features which could include passive dimming when users are not nearby.
What are the benefits?
Reducing the long, continuous roads in the road network and encouraging drivers to adopt lower speeds in Sandy Point will have safety benefits for all users. Pedestrians and other active transport users often use the roads and roadsides to travel within Sandy Point when getting around. Encouraging safer speeds in Sandy Point will also provide benefits to the wildlife who call it home.