With the Boorooma Shopping Plaza becoming increasingly popular, pedestrian safety has become an issue. Photo: Chris Roe.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) will soon begin looking into installing a pedestrian crossing at the Boorooma Street roundabout as questions about public safety emerge.
As the unprecedented growth of Wagga’s northern suburbs continues with a growing number of services, the safety of pedestrians who use Boorooma Street has become increasingly more difficult to maintain.
Looking to combat the risks that come with increased traffic through the area, WWCC is preparing a report outlining options for appropriate crossings on the roundabout at the intersection of Avocet Drive, Boorooma Street and Messenger Avenue.
The section of road in question has seen a spike in traffic since 2023 with the opening of the Boorooma Shopping Plaza which currently houses a handful of stores including Chemist Warehouse, Domino’s Pizza and a soon-to-be Coles Express.
Traffic has also increased as students flood back to Charles Sturt University for the year’s first session.
Wagga Wagga City Council Director of Infrastructure Services Warren Faulkner said council staff were hoping to have a report with crossing options ready for councillors to review by the second ordiranry council meeting in March.
“We’ve got an upgrade of Boorooma Street planned for two years’ time as part of the Local Infrastructure Contributions Plans to turn the existing two lanes into four lanes, so I’m certainly looking to incorporate whatever [pedestrian] upgrades are required as a part of that upgrade,” he said.
Boorooma Street’s speed limit is 70 km/h and has an on- and off-ramp to the Olympic Highway which has a limit of 80 km/h.
Many locals of the area have voiced their concerns about the speed limits, including CSU student Deklan Bourke.
“As a uni student, I travel to the shopping centre quite regularly for food or medication or things like that and it can be quite intimidating,” he said.
“When you’re looking down the road to a car that’s coming towards you at 70 [km/h], it isn’t ideal.”
Mr Faulkner said the concerns about the speeds at the crossing weren’t falling on deaf ears and would be considered as part of the plans.
“There’s no doubt that all pedestrians are at risk there because of the speed environment,” Mr Faulkner said.
“One of the things I think is of concern is the width of the road. With the road being narrower, the road gives a sensation of being a little bit quicker than it actually is.”
A couple of the options being considered to ensure better pedestrian safety include the implementation of traffic lights and the removal of the left turn lane onto Avocet Drive.
Councillors are expected to decide on future plans at the 25 March ordinary meeting.
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