City of Ryde sought community feedback on a proposal to convert the section of Belmore Lane between Blaxland Road and Blaxland Lane into an one-way southbound laneway.

The proposed changes and associated signage can be viewed below.

Why is the change being considered?

The carriageway width of this section of Belmore Lane is approximately 3.9m wide, which is too narrow to accommodate two-way traffic. The current two-way traffic flow arrangement poses the following safety concerns:

• When opposing vehicles are travelling along the laneway, one vehicle is required to reverse a considerable distance or onto an intersection to enable the opposing vehicle to pass. This situation can increase the risk of collisions between the reversing vehicle and other road users on the public road.
• Vehicles exiting from Belmore Lane to turn left into Blaxland Road have to negotiate multiple lanes of traffic. The congestion observed on Devlin Street and Blaxland Road during weekday peak hour periods increases delay for drivers looking to turn out of Belmore Lane onto Blaxland Road. This has caused impatient drivers to perform unsafe turns, which increases the risk of accidents at the junction of Blaxland Road and Belmore Lane.

Vehicles turning right from Belmore Lane onto Blaxland Road during weekday peak periods have also been observed to obstruct the westbound traffic lane on Blaxland Road, causing queues to extend back onto Devlin Street.

The proposal to convert Belmore Lane between Blaxland Road and Blaxland Lane into an one-way southbound laneway is intended to address the abovementioned traffic safety and efficiency issues caused by the current traffic flow arrangement.