GAWLER Council will bid for state or federal government funding to carry out a $120,000 upgrade of the Lyndoch Road/High Street intersection in Gawler.

The junction, located just 60m from the council’s administration centre, was identified in late-2018 by independent traffic engineering consultants GTA as being in need of improvement.

Elected members were presented with a report at their meeting last Tuesday and voted to proceed with a funding application through the state or federal governments’ Black Spot programs.

Council will apply for the upgrade to be fully funded by the Federal Government, or to receive $80,000 in State Government support.

Council would cover the remaining $40,000 if the State Government was to fund the intersection upgrade.

According to the staff report, authored by council traffic engineer Valiff Zak, there were four crashes at the site between 2014 and ’18.

“The road safety audit identified a number of improvements that could be made to the intersection,” Mr Zak stated.

“The audit identified the existing high speed angle, left turn slip lane from Lyndoch Road into High Street could be improved to reduce vehicle speeds on approach to a pedestrian crossing.

“The audit also identified the right turn out from High Street onto Lyndoch could be further improved, especially when Lyndoch Road is congested with west-bound through traffic to Murray Street and sight lines are limited.”

For intersections to be eligible for Black Spot funding, three crashes that could be attributable to the junction must have occurred over a five-year period.

According to Mr Zak’s report, all four accidents at the intersection were caused by vehicles turning right from High Street onto Lyndoch Road.

“Council has received from DPTI (the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure) ‘in principle’ support for the project and have provided their feedback,” he stated.

“One of the major aspects of the concept design consists of a raised concrete protuberance to extend the existing south-eastern kerb line north-west and, ultimately, remove the existing high speed angle, separated left turn slip lane into High Street.

“The removal of the high speed entry left turn slip lane will increase sightlines, reduce the speeds of motorists entering High Street, and create a safer environment.”

Concept designs for the intersection include a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists, which would help connect High Street to the Barossa Trail bikeway.