CROSSING Fitzgerald Street on a busy day in Northam can be confusing for some with misunderstandings over rights of way, continuous traffic and lack of signage all contributing risk factors.
At tonight’s meeting the shire council will address local concerns over the issue and determine whether a crosswalk is required at the centre of the main strip.
Currently, speed humps ensure drivers do not exceed a maximum speed of approximately 20 kilometres per hour, and ground-level signage indicates for pedestrians to give way to approaching vehicles.
However, without signage available for motorists, and some pedestrians failing to observe the message on the footpath, council will decide tonight whether a zebra or pelican crossing would be a necessary upgrade.
For either crossing to be installed, the volume of traffic (both motorists and pedestrians) must be significant, and with traffic counters currently monitoring the area, this information will be available to council prior to the next meeting.
In the officer’s comments, chief executive Neville Hale noted the cost of either crossing would be in the thousands of dollars, with a potential pelican crossing (including lights) in the hundreds of thousands.
Mr Hale has also suggested an alternative course of action, where appropriate eye-level signage will provide both pedestrians and motorists with information on right of way.