Airport roundabout traffic lights are largely doing their job

The traffic lights on the airport roundabout are largely doing the job they were intended to do, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.

Mr Pitt said he was aware that congestion on Airport Drive heading from the airport had increased, and this was the main reason he had formed a task force to look at the whole issue of traffic entering and leaving the airport precinct.

“To say that the lights have been a failure and that the whole exercise has been pointless is not only incorrect but also misunderstands why the lights were installed,” Mr Pitt said.

"The traffic signals were designed to improve safety and to control the queue lengths on the approaches to the interchange – which is exactly what they have done.

"Prior to the signals being installed, 122 crashes at the interchange had been reported to police over the previous five years.

"Since the signals were switched on two months ago, Main Roads has not received notice of any reported accidents.

"Safety for motorists is an absolute priority, and we are not going to jeopardise that safety by removing the signals.

"Prior to the switch on, traffic on the northbound exit from the Gateway would often bank back on to the motorway.

"This resulted in stationary cars on the motorway, which was an extremely dangerous situation."

The new traffic signals at the Airport Drive interchange have eliminated this occurrence by controlling queues lengths on the approaches.

On top of this, three of the four approaches are also operating more effectively since the signals were switched on.

Mr Pitt said a downside of installing the traffic signals had been increased congestion on Airport Drive leaving the airport. The task force that had been established would report on ways to relieve this congestion, while maintaining safety standards.

Mr Pitt said that if the lights were switched off, as some people were suggesting should happen, the banking of traffic back on to the motorway would re-emerge, and along with it an unacceptable safety risk.

“Just imagine the kind of horrific traffic accident that could happen where a petrol tanker ploughed into the back of a line of stationary vehicles on the motorway,” he said.

“There would be a public outcry as to why such a serious traffic danger had not been addressed.”

Mr Pitt said that along with the criticism of the new traffic signals at the airport roundabout, there has also been some praise.

“People have been very vocal and forthright in the criticism of the traffic lights,” he said.

“There are others, however, who think that overall the lights have improved the roundabout. They say they are much more confident using the roundabout, and find it a good deal safer.

"Motorists who use this interchange need to be aware that the road network in this area is at capacity and will remain that way until the Gateway Upgrade Project's northern deviation is completed in 2009.”

Mr Pitt said claims that only five cars were travelling through the roundabout every 60 seconds were demonstrably wrong.

"About 52,000 vehicles use this interchange everyday – and in the peak hours there is an average of 50 to 55 cars every 60 seconds, not five.

"With more than 50,000 vehicles a day using the roundabout, congestion during peak times is inevitable. We are just trying to do our best control this congestion, and to keep traffic moving.

"Growth in the airport precinct has caused increased pressure on the current road network, which is why the northern deviation will be a vital addition to the network.”

Mr Pitt said the multi-agency task force looking at ways of relieving congestion on the roundabout would hold its second meeting this week.

The task force – comprising traffic management experts and other representatives from government and private sector agencies - met to put congestion-cutting ideas and options on the table.

Some initial short-term measures have already been canvassed in a preliminary way, and will be discussed further at this week’s meeting.

Options for the Airport Drive interchange will be further developed and finalised before being presented to the community for comment.

"I would ask that in the meantime motorists be patient and know that we are doing everything in our power to ease the congestion at the interchange without compromising people’s safety."

Main Roads is continuing to monitor the intersection and the signal timings, and will make adjustments as traffic demands change.

Currently, the timings of the signals at the interchange have been set to best meet traffic demands from the four approaches. These timings will alter as improvements are made to the interchange line markings and configuration.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819 or 0408 701 379