2016-02-02 I&S Committee - Item 4 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Traffic Study

5.3.1 Year 2036 – Weyba Road / Reef St / Mary St intersection

By 2036 the Weyba Road / Reef St / Mary St intersection is predicted to be operating with a
degree of saturation of 0.88 in the Saturday non-holiday period and 1.19 in the Saturday
holiday period, with the intersection in its existing configuration. Weekday operating conditions
are predicted to remain below DOS 0.85 in the non-holiday period, but will exceed DOS 0.85 in
the weekday holiday periods by the year 2036. Sufficient additional capacity to accommodate
the Saturday holiday period would be achieved through provision of two northbound lanes
through the roundabout from Reef St to Weyba Rd, and provision of a short additional right turn
lane on the south eastern Weyba Rd approach so that traffic on that approach can queue
separately whether travelling to Weyba Rd (north) or to Mary St (west). With those works, year
2036 operating conditions of DOS 0.80 and 0.59 are predicted on the critical Saturday peak in
the holiday and non-holiday periods respectively. If delays and congestion can be accepted on
Saturdays, then these works could be delayed until about 2030 or beyond.



5.3.2 Year 2036 – Noosa Drive / Noosa Parade intersection

There is already significant congestion during peak times at the Noosa Drive / Noosa Parade
intersection, and this will continue to worsen into the future. As previously indicated, this
congestion is not due to a lack of roundabout capacity but is rather caused by congestion at
other nearby road system elements that causes queuing back and into the roundabout.
Improvements to this roundabout will not overcome the congestion issue in this area. This is a
matter that will need to be addressed (if it is to be resolved at all) by further strategic studies in
relation to transport and parking, and detailed traffic management in that area.



5.3.3 Year 2036 – Ben Lexcen Dr / Eenie Ck Rd intersection

The 2036 analysis indicates that the existing Ben Lexcen Dr / Eenie Ck Rd intersection will
have reached its capacity during holiday periods, and will be operating close to capacity during
non-holiday periods.

One option to achieve satisfactory operating conditions under year 2036 conditions, would be
to increase the length of right turn lanes on each intersection approach, in conjunction with
implementation of left turn slip lanes on each approach. With those improvements, predicted
operating conditions in the year 2036 during the critical AM holiday period would be DOS 0.85
with a 90 second traffic signal cycle time.

It is noted that the potential left turn slip lanes suggested above could be signalised, so as to
remove pedestrian safety concern with such lanes in this environment having a number of
schools in the vicinity.

There is a myriad of options for potential improvements to satisfactorily improve the capacity of
this intersection in order to accommodate future traffic demands. It is beyond the scope of this
study to consider all of those options in detail in order to then make firm recommendations.

In the short term, rectification of the off-peak operational efficiency issues is recommended,
through improvements to the efficiency of operation of the traffic signal timing.

14.s.53.7                                      Page - 33