PRESSURE is mounting on Albury Council to address increasing concerns about traffic congestion following approval of one of the biggest residential sub-divisions in the Thurgoona-Wirlinga growth corridor.
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The first stage of the Thurgoona Park North estate – 424 lots – was ticked off on Monday.
Further stages will see the Peter Bowen Homes development grow to 1100-plus lots and become home for an estimated 4000 people.
In response, the council has been undertaking a city-wide traffic strategy to cope with the increasing population in the Thurgoona-Wirlinga growth corridor and existing housing growth across Albury.
“It will give us some base information around current and future projections on traffic through some of those key intersections and interchanges,” council's engineering director Brad Ferris said.
He said work on a roundabout at the Thurgoona Drive, Travelstop Way and Catherine Crescent intersection had started and upgrades on Thurgoona Drive were planned for Elizabeth Mitchell Drive and Kerr Road over the next four years.
But former deputy mayor Ross Jackson, who lives in Thurgoona, said duplicating Thurgoona Drive should be a priority.
He said the biggest pressure point was the Thurgoona Drive-Elizabeth Mitchell Drive roundabout at school drop-off and pick-up times.
Mr Jackson added a ring road joining up Kerr Road, Table Top, Davey Road at the Hume Highway should also be strongly considered by council.
“An application of that size should require council to look at the transportation issues around putting extra vehicles on the road in Thurgoona,” he said.
“A ring road gives people another option to get in and get out.”
Mayor Kevin Mack campaigned on duplicating Thurgoona Drive at last year's elections.
Cr John Stuchbery acknowledged the city's traffic difficulties after voting for the Thurgoona housing estate.
“Thurgoona is already a little congested as is South Albury, central Albury, North Albury, East Albury and West Albury,” he said.
“It could take 10 or 20 years for it to be completed and one would hope that the road network will be a bit better then compared to how it is now.”
The council previously considered an east-west connector road between Elizabeth Mitchell Drive and Kerr Road.
