Traffic lights won’t go on this year

INTERSECTION works on traffic lights on the Surf Coast Highway in Torquay North will be done by Christmas, but activating the lights themselves will have to wait until the new year.

The project at the intersection of Surf Coast Highway, Rosser Boulevard and Coombes Road began in May, and included the extension of Rosser Boulevard to connect with the highway as well as the installation of traffic lights, lighting, bicycle lanes and bus stops.

Final asphalt works are under way, which will be followed by the traffic lights and public lighting poles going in, the pulling of cables, line marking, and installation of directional signage.

This week, the Surf Coast Shire stated these works were due to be completed by Christmas, but the commissioning of the traffic lights by Powercor could take months.

When the contractor works are complete, all lanes of the Surf Coast Highway – two lanes each way – will then be opened to traffic, with the temporary 40kmh speed limit to remain in place.

There will be limited access between Coombes Road and the highway, with left turn in and left turn out of Coombes Road only.

Rosser Boulevard will remain closed until the traffic lights are fully operational.

The shire cannot fully open the intersection or restore the usual 80kmh speed limit for safety reasons until the traffic lights and public lighting are commissioned, but is waiting on a date from Powercor, which the shire says may not be until late March or early April.

Following the commissioning of the traffic lights and public lighting, Coombes Road and Rosser Boulevard will be fully opened to the highway.

“This project will improve traffic flow and safety. It will create a new traffic access point to the Surf Coast Highway for Torquay North residents, as well as signalised crossing points for pedestrian safety,” Cr Kate Gazzard said.

“While the works are running to schedule and due for completion in time for Christmas, we remind residents that the traffic lights commissioning process by Powercor can take a few months.

“We assure you that the lights will be switched on as soon as we can,” she said.

For more information, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/CoombesRosserTrafficLights