Council have deferred a decision to permanently close the Bridge Street and Glover Street intersection on Pickles Street after a 12-month trial. The delay follows resident’s concerns about a motion to permanently close the intersection on the Council agenda on 15 November. 

Residents are seeking a better solution to improve safety and manage traffic flow at this intersection on Pickles Street in the interests of all users and to manage traffic speed in Pickles Street. Concerns have been raised about the Council’s evaluation report, recommendations, and the consultation process.  

Residents have informed Council staff of vehicles being driven over the median closure, making unsafe U turns at either end of the median closure to access both Bridge and Glover Streets, ‘Keep left’ signs being knocked down and increased danger for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the road at the median strip. 

It is surprising that none of these dangerous behaviours have been acknowledged in the evaluation report when the behaviours continue to be observed daily.

The evaluation report inexplicably states that “community members were encouraged to provide feedback on their experiences and perceptions of the changes introduced”. 

Some residents have called for the installation of traffic lights as a preferred solution to address safety concerns, but this option has not been considered in the Council evaluation, possibly because of cost.

Others suggested that the safety issues can be relieved by keeping Pickles Street open but removing the ability to turn right onto Pickles Street from Bridge Street and Glover Street. Residents could turn right at Liardet Street instead which has traffic lights enabling a safer turn across Pickles.

The Council evaluation indicated there had been no negative impact on adjacent Streets despite evidence to the contrary. Residents have observed that the modified intersection has created issues for residents in adjacent streets. Residents are concerned about access to Cruikshank Street which is one way towards the south to Liardet St from Bridge St and one way to the north from Bridge St towards Spring St East. This means a circular route may be required from any direction in order to enter Cruikshank St.

Before the right hand turn from Pickles into Bridge was blocked off, drivers coming from the north, could turn right into Bridge, then left into Cruikshank as well as by turning right from Bridge St coming from the west. Now drivers from the north have to go south down Pickles Street turn right into Liardet, right into Esplanade St E, right into Bridge, then right into Cruikshank. From Richardson St the same convoluted approach is required.

Regarding the impact on other adjacent streets, many drivers (coming from North going South) previously turned right at Pickles St to get to the west via Bridge Street which goes directly to Bay Street where there are traffic lights. Residents now observe a significant number of drivers turning right from Pickles Street into Spring Street East or driving across Pickles Street from Mountain Street with the same goal. Spring Street East is a very narrow road not designed for the load safely carried along Bridge St.

Because motorists can no longer drive across Pickles Street from Bridge St to Glover St, or turn right into Glover St to go East to South Melbourne and Albert Park there is now increased traffic from Pickles Street into Tribe St and Mountain Street. There also appears to be increased traffic into /along Richardson Street.

It is alarming that Council traffic management staff appear to have ignored resident’s concerns about this intersection and traffic speed prior to commencement of the trial and during the trial. It is not unreasonable to assume that Council had a predetermined outcome prior to the commencement of the trial and community consultation. 

Residents were unaware of any opportunity for residents to give feedback and contribute to the evaluation report in either an informal or formal manner.