No delay on traffic lights

SURF Coast Shire Council is pushing ahead to install traffic lights at a Torquay intersection despite calls from nearby residents to delay the project.

The council recently announced the $2.2 million intersection improvement at Surf Coast Highway, Coombes Road and Rosser Boulevard would go ahead from Monday.

It comes after a community petition in May urged the council to postpone altering the intersection, arguing there would be “no community benefit” in completing the works early.

The project, part of the council’s 2020-21 budget, received 15 objections.

The Quay Residents Association’s John De Witt shared local concerns at a council hearing of submissions meeting last month.

“Our neighbourhood residents are not against the intersection,” he said.

“Many residents are against premature opening of the intersection, without Inshore Drive’s concurrent completion and opening.”

Mr De Witt said residents were already concerned about high traffic volumes on their streets.

The council said temporary traffic measures, including the closure of four roads, would be in place to help avoid an “unreasonable increase” in traffic on roads connecting the Quay and Quay 2 estates while the intersection was completed.

Glengarry, Inshore, Marine and Centreside drives will be closed until the completion of the intersection in late 2021.

Cr Brian McKiterick said the council and Regional Roads Victoria were working with the developer to progress the intersection project “as quickly as possible”.