LITERALLY A CAR PARK
Motorists endure five-hour traffic jam
MOTORISTS spent up to an astonishing five hours stuck in the Argyle St car park yesterday — unable to exit into the bumper-tobumper traffic outside.
The traffic on Argyle St came to a halt from about midday as drivers lined up to turn left down Liverpool St, which was already crowded by traffic being diverted at Campbell St due to the closure there for a new power cable for the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment.
Scott George, pictured, of Bellerive, said he had been stuck in the car park from 3pm until 5.30pm.
“People were so frustrated — there was one lady who had been there for five hours,” Mr George said.
Geoff Donegan, who spent more than an hour on level 5, of the car park yesterday, said: “It’s pretty frustrating. I just want to get home for my son’s birthday.”
The Hobart City Council last night temporarily banned all traffic, other than buses and taxis, from to turning left into Liverpool St from Argyle St until Campbell St reopens on April 29.
HUNDREDS of motorists spent up to five hours stuck in the Argyle St car park yesterday after Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment works caused traffic chaos in the city.
Traffic on Argyle St came to a halt from about midday as drivers lined up to turn left down Liverpool St, which was already crowded by traffic being diverted at Campbell St.
Hobart City Council last night moved to address the problem, saying traffic would be stopped from turning left at Argyle St until Campbell St reopens on April 29.
“The issue exiting Argyle St car park was caused by traffic that wanted to turn left into Liverpool St blocking the exit to Argyle St car park and resulting in cars in Argyle St car park being unable to exit,” a council spokesman said.
“From tomorrow traffic, excluding buses, taxis and bikes, will not be able to turn left into Liverpool St from Argyle St which will alleviate this problem.”
Scott George, of Bellerive, took it upon himself to assist with directing traffic out of the car park after being stuck on the seventh floor. “It was very annoying, I was stuck up there from 3pm until 5.30pm,” he said.
“People were so frustrated, there was one lady who had been there for five hours, so I went to the main entrance and tried to help cars get out.
“If common sense had prevailed, the roadworks would’ve been done at night.”
Mr George said matters were made worse by drivers who were stopped over keepclear zones.
While some vented their frustration by reaching for the horn, others gave up waiting and abandoned their cars and caught a bus home.
Geoff Donegan spoke to the Mercury from inside the car park yesterday afternoon after spending more than an hour on level 5.
“One poor lady with five little kids on level 6 has been waiting for two hours,” he said.
“It’s pretty frustrating. I just want to get home for my son’s birthday.”
Campbell St is closed between Liverpool and Collins streets to allow for the installation of a new power cable as part of the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment.
Wayne Chappell, who was caught in the car park from 1.45pm until 5.15pm, said he was disappointed by the coun- cil’s lack of communication and organisation.
“It’s hard to believe the city council couldn’t organise the street sign to say full or closed so they could empty the car park,” he said.
“Instead they continued to let cars in who then ended up on top and jamming up the lane as well. To top it off, a car on level 5 got a flat battery which then created havoc for cars to even get past.”
To add to the mayhem, there were reports of a domestic dispute in the car park, which was attended by police.
Last week RACT executive general manager Stacey Pennicot warned that the Campbell St closure would push traffic on to other roads.
“Hobart traffic has seen in the past year or so that any road closure, event or breakdown on any part of the arterial causes issues throughout the city,” she said.
“Because people are waiting longer, bad driving habits come into play. Our advice to road users is they look at their traffic route and leave extra time and avoid the Campbell St area.”
There will be no charge for motorists who left their cars in the car park overnight.