LAKE Macquarie City Council has put a pin in residents’ concerns about the Glendale transport interchange design and forged ahead with the project’s first stage.
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More than 100 residents have made submissions opposing the plans, in which the traffic lights at Cedar Street, Cardiff, have been removed.
The lights must be cut so Glendale Drive, with which Cedar Street aligns, can be moved to the west to allow Pennant Street to connect to Main Road, Glendale.
Cedar Street and surrounding residents can turn left or right onto Main Road. However, this will change to a left turn only.
The alternative – offset traffic lights at Norfolk and Lowry streets – was rejected by Roads and Maritime Services.
The two streets could be aligned to form a typical intersection and give Cedar Street residents another route, but this would add about $10 million to the $50 million project.
Lake Macquarie council approved the first stage of the project, but with a clause added by councillor Brian Adamthwaite.
The clause stated the council would work with the RMS to improve access in the area.
Cr Adamthwaite said he was ‘‘not prepared to stall the whole project’’, but had met the residents halfway.
‘‘This allows us to move ahead but also to look at possible opportunities [to solve the problem] in the future,’’ he said.
Cardiff resident Adam Gibson said he was worried the issue would be ‘‘swept under the rug’’ but was confident the council could ‘‘get the RMS to come to the party’’.