3 weeks ago
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A Sydney suburb’s diamond-shaped 'roundabout' was met with appall from drivers, and the intersection has now reverted to its original configuration.
In Sydney’s south-west, an intersection that caused outrage at the illogical implementation of a diamond-shaped roundabout has been removed after less than a week.
The 'diamond-about' left drivers confused at how to navigate turning, giving way, and generally behaving, so Liverpool City Council reverted the changes back to 'Give Way' signs.
Located where Fifteenth Avenue crosses with Twenty-Eighth Avenue in the suburb of Austral, the road serves as a main path from the south-west to the upcoming Western Sydney Airport set to open in 2026.
The Austral suburb has been implementing a few new roundabouts to mitigate the high traffic on Fifteenth Avenue, especially in preparation for the new airport.
It is also in a quickly developing area, bringing congestion as the road cannot keep up with today’s volume of cars.
Liverpool City Council media representative Alan Gale revealed the change in road came from a need to improve traffic management, which fell to local government.
Gale said there are plans to install traffic lights at this particular intersection once the State government takes control of the road, but until then because of a “failure by state and federal governments to upgrade the road, we're left with a mess,” Gale told Drive.
However, there are also fears that the key road will not be ready in time to accommodate the increased traffic flow once the new airport opens.
“We have been campaigning for years to get that road upgraded ahead of the airport opening,” Gale said.
“The federal and state governments didn't commit to it until late last year, just before the Federal election, when they announced a $1 billion funding package to upgrade the road, and like the residents of Austral, Liverpool Council is eagerly awaiting the upgrade.
“It's going to take a long time. We fear it's not going to be ready.”
The odd roundabout did not work as hoped, but the council quickly reverted the changes, and the ball now lies in the State and Federal Governments for future road upgrades.
Ilana is a Melbourne-based journalist who was previously a copywriter in the Big Apple. Having moved to Melbourne for her Master of Journalism, she has written articles about food, farm machinery, fashion, and now the fast and furious. Her dream car has been a Mini Cooper since the fifth grade, eyeing its style and petite size.
