title of report - brisbane city council · 1.4 audit trigger ... undertake an existing stage road...

Hellawell Road

Existing Road Stage

Road Safety Audit

DRAFT

November 2016

Prepared for

City Projects Office

Prepared by

Transport Engineering Studies

Transport Planning and Strategy

Hellawell Road (The Avenue and Borella Road) RSA – DRAFT Transport Engineering Studies Transport Engineering Studies

170013 Hellawell Rd (The Avenue and Borella Rd) RSA Draft 161107 Draft 2

Transport Engineering Studies

Level 7 Brisbane Square

266 George Street

Brisbane QLD 4000

Issue No. Date of

Issue

Amdt

Prepared By

(Author/s)

Reviewed By Approved for Issue

(Project Director)

Initials Initials Initials

1 4/11/16 DRAFT RG, MB MJP

2 6/02/17 RESPONSE SL



Table of Contents

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 4

1.2 Road Safety Risk Rating ........................................................................................... 4

1.3 Responding To Audit Findings .................................................................................. 5

1.4 Audit Trigger ............................................................................................................. 5

2 Project Description ........................................................................................................ 6

2.1 Study Area ................................................................................................................ 6

3 Road Safety Audit Findings .......................................................................................... 7

4 Statement by Audit Team ............................................................................................ 24

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1: Risk Rating Matrix

Table 3.1: General Road Safety Audit Findings

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Road Safety Audit Extents



1 Introduction

1.1 Background

Transport Engineering Studies has been commissioned by City Projects Office (CPO) to

undertake an Existing Stage Road Safety Audit of Hellawell Road (at The Avenue and

Borella Road), Runcorn. The purpose of this road safety audit is to provide an independent

assessment of any road safety risks that may be present and to provide advice on options to

mitigate identified risks.

1.2 Road Safety Risk Rating

The audit was completed in accordance with the requirements of Austroads, Guide to Road

Safety: Part 6 Road Safety Audit, 2009. The audit report generally follows the format and

topics outlined in the Austroads Checklist 6 for an existing road audit.

Risk rating of safety issues is defined as per Austroads Part 6 Table 4.4. Table 1.1 below

outlines the severity and likelihood relationship consistently used to identify a risk rating.

Actions required in response to these ratings are recommended as follows:

INTOLERABLE: Must be corrected as quickly as possible.

HIGH: Should be corrected or the risk significantly reduced, regardless of cost.

MEDIUM: Should be corrected or the risk significantly reduced, if the treatment cost

is moderate.

LOW: Should be corrected or the risk reduced, if the treatment cost is low.

VERY LOW: Deficiencies identified in the standard or the positioning of traffic

control devices which, while unlikely to directly increase risk significantly have very

low treatment cost and therefore should be mitigated with routine maintenance

actions.



Table 1.1: Risk Rating Matrix

Severity Frequency

Frequent Probable Occasional Improbable

Once/ week Once/ year 5-10 years <every 10 years

Catastrophic Likely multiple deaths Intolerable Intolerable Intolerable High

Serious Death or serious injury Intolerable Intolerable High Medium

Minor Minor injury Intolerable High Medium Low

Limited Trivial injury/property damaged High Medium Low Very Low

The above relies on professional engineering judgement of the audit team. Further

information on determining risk ratings based on probability, severity and level of risk can be

found in Austroads Part 6 Section 4.8 C.

1.3 Responding To Audit Findings

The Austroads’ Guide to Road Safety Part 6: Road Safety Audit clearly outlines that the

client is not under any obligation to accept any or all of this road safety audit’s

recommendations. It should be noted that the recommendations outlined herein may not be

the only option for mitigating the risk of a particular issue, or be the most cost effective

option. It is good practice to document the reason(s) behind rejecting any findings from a

road safety audit should such a decision be made.

1.4 Audit Trigger

Transport Engineering Studies understands that the trigger to undertake this Road Safety

Audit has been at the discretion of the CPO project team. Undertaking independent road

safety auditing at various stages throughout the engineering design process ensures that

safety is considered as an integral part of the design and planning process.



2 Project Description

2.1 Study Area

The road extents considered in the Road Safety Audit are shown in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Road Safety Audit Extents

Hellawell Road (The Avenue and Borella Road) RSA – DRAFT Transport Engineering Studies


3 Road Safety Audit Findings

The following summarises the road safety issues, hazards and opportunities identified as part of the audit undertaken.

The audit was completed in accordance with the requirements of Austroads, Guide to Road Safety: Part 6 Road Safety Audit, 2009.

Table 3.1: General Road Safety Audit Findings

Item Location Issue/Risk Description Risk Possible Solution Client Response

1.

Hellawell Road

(westbound), 30m

west of Luke Close

Raised section of footpath presents a trip hazard.

Risk of pedestrian/cyclist trips and falls.

LO

W Consider remediating the footpath

to remove the trip hazard.

Footpath will be replaced with

3.0m wide shared path




2.

Hellawell Rd

(approaching The

Avenue, eastbound)

Overhanging vegetation obstructing footpath.

Risk of injury to cyclists.

LO

W Consider trimming overhanging

tree branches.

Trees will be removed due to

road widening




3.

Hellawell

Road/Luke Close

Intersection

Kerb ramps on either side of Luke Close are poorly

aligned.

This makes it difficult for persons with vision

impairment to cross at this location and increases the

risk of pedestrian/vehicle collisions.

LO

W Consider realigning the pathway

and/or kerb ramps so that the

ramps are aligned.

Kerb ramps will be

reconstructed on new road

alignment for 3.0m wide shared

path




4.

Hellawell

Road/Luke Close

Intersection

Power pole located in close proximity to the traffic

carrying lane.

Increased severity of injury in the event of an errant

vehicle leaving the road at this location.

ME

DIU

M

Consider relocation or protection

of the power pole.

Power pole will be relocated due

to road widening. A minimum of

0.6m clearance from nominal

kerb face to the new pole will be

provided.




5.

Hellawell Road

eastbound and

westbound

approaches to the

Borella Road

intersection

Bike lane signage incorrectly used as cyclist

wayfinding signage.

The signage is confusing for all road users and may

increase vehicle/cyclist interactions if cyclists make

unpredictable manouevres.

VE

RY

LO

W

Consider removing existing

signage (and installing wayfinding

signage if deemed

necessary/advantageous).

Signs to be removed and

replaced with wayfinding

signage




6. Hellawell

Road/Peter Court

Kerb ramps on either side of Peter Court are poorly

aligned.

This makes it difficult for persons with vision

impairment to cross at this location and increases the

risk of pedestrian/vehicle collisions.

LO

W Consider aligning the kerb ramps

so that they direct users towards

each other.

Outside extent of works




7.

Borella

Road/Hellawell

Road Intersection

Damaged and faded bus route sign co-located with

regulatory sign.

Whilst the route sign is smaller than the regulatory

sign, it is preferable to locate less important signage

away from to regulatory signs/intersections to reduce

driver workload.

VE

RY

LO

W

Consider removing damaged

sign.

Intersection is being upgraded to

signals, bus route sign will be

replaced




8.

Borella

Road/Hellawell

Road Intersection

Vehicles using bike lane to queue for left turn out of

Borella Road during PM school peak.

Increased risk of bicycle/vehicle conflicts at this

location.

ME

DIU

M

Consider (in order of

precedence):

a) improving intersection

capacity to reduce

queueing

b) physically narrow the

intersection approach to

discourage formation of a

second queueing lane

c) terminating the

southbound bicycle lane

further upstream of the

intersection and directing

cyclists to the footpath

Intersection is being upgraded

with signals and improvements

to bike facilities at intersection




9.

Eastbound and

westbound

approaches

Hellawell Road

Pedestrian Refuge

(west of Borella

Road Intersection)

Inappropriate use of D4-3 Width marker sign for

delineation of concrete islands.

Whilst unlikely to be a hazard in isolation, in general

the incorrect use of hazard signage dilutes their

meaning and breaks the basic road design rules of

consistency.

VE

RY

LO

W

Consider replacement of signage

with D4-3 Hazard Markers (on

both approaches).

Signalised crossing will be

provided as a part of the

signalised intersection and the

refuge islands removed




10. Hellawell Road

(corridor wide)

Multiple power poles located within the clear zone.

Increased severity of injury in the event of an errant

vehicle leaving the road at these locations.

ME

DIU

M

Consider relocation or protection

of power poles.

Power poles will be relocated as

part of road widening, and

minimum 0.6m clearance

provided from nominal kerb face

to power pole




11.

Hellawell Road

(eastbound), 90m

west of Borella

Road

Bus stop shelter obstructs footpath.

Risk of cyclists colliding with the edge of the shelter

and increased risk of pedestrian/cyclist collision on

the path.

LO

W

Consider relocating or modifying

bus stop shelter.

Bus stops will be relocated




12.

Hellawell Road

(eastbound), 90m

west of Borella

Road

No TGSI provided at bus stop.

Increased risk of tripping for vision impaired

pedestrians.

LO

W Consider undertaking DDA

compliance works at the bus stop.

Bus stops will be relocated and

compliant with current standards




13.

Hellawell Road

(eastbound/

westbound), 30m

east of Signata

Street

Unprotected culvert (approximately 3m high) located

on both sides of the road. The existing fence is not a

crash barrier and the horizontal rails may pose a

spearing hazard to occupants of an errant vehicle.

There is a risk of increased crash severity in the

result of an errant vehicle leaving the road at this

location.

HIG

H Consider installing road safety

barrier on both sides of the road

to shield the hazard.

Outside of current extents of

work




14.

The Avenue, 70m

south of Hellawell

Road

Missing kerb ramp on the western side of The

Avenue. A footpath is only provided on the western

side of the road, but a kerb ramp is provided on the

eastern side connecting to a connecting footpath

from the residential catchment to the east.

Risk of pedestrian trips and falls negotiating kerb to

access footpath.

LO

W Consider installing kerb ramp on

the western side of the road.


work




15.

Hellawell Road

(westbound), 30m

west of Peter Court

Pedestrian refuge sign obscured by vegetation

Increased risk of pedestrian/vehicle conflicts due to

reduced anticipation of pedestrian crossing activity.

ME

DIU

M

Consider trimming the vegetation. Sign will be removed once

intersection is signalised

16. Hellawell Road/The

Avenue Intersection

One street light globe out near the intersection

Increased risk of rear end crashes due to late

decision making to turn into The Avenue. LO

W Consider replacement of globe on

street light.

Streetlights will be upgraded due

to widening of Hellawell Rd




17.

The Avenue, 70m

south of Hellawell

Road

Insufficient lighting of pathway connection from

eastion section of subdivision to The Avenue, given

that this is a potential crossing point for pedestrians

(north-south footpath is on the western side of the

road).

Risk of vehicle/pedestrian conflicts at this location.

ME

DIU

M

Consider installing additional

street lighting.


work

18. The Avenue

Overall street lighting level on The Avenue appears

to be insufficient – vegetation canopy restricts the

projection/throw of many of the luminaires.

LO

W

Consider investigating options to

supplement existing luminaires

with low mounted pathway-style

luminaires.

Outside current extents of work




19.

Borella

Road/Hellawell

Road intersection

One street light globe out near the intersection

Increased risk of rear end crashes due to late

decision making to turn into The Avenue.

LO

W Consider replacement of globe on

street light.

Streetlights will be upgraded due

to widening of Hellawell Rd



4 Statement by Audit Team

The audit team comprised the following members and the findings and recommendations are

the opinions of the auditors:

Michael Pickerill – Accredited Senior Road Safety Auditor ……………..……….………….

Ryan Gillard – Traffic Engineer ……………..……….………….

Melvin Boh – Road Safety Auditor, BCC ……………..……….………….

All efforts were made to ensure that all relevant safety issues were considered.

title of report - brisbane city council · 1.4 audit trigger ... undertake an existing stage road...

Documents