Due to the large volume of traffic and particularly heavy vehicles moving through the main shopping Hawkins Street, council decided on the action at its latest monthly meeting on Tuesday.
The study’s report will include the following components: data collection (traffic volumes, crash history), route identification, preliminary costing, environmental and social impact assessment, economic analysis, stakeholder engagement and risk assessment.
Council’s director engineering services Theo Panagopoulos said the bypass route would not be built in two to five years.
“But we’ve got to start somewhere,” Mr Panagopoulos said.
Allocating $30,000 was an excellent idea according to Cr Sue Wearne who said the matter was raised in council in 2021 to be investigated.
Cr Pat Bourke welcomed council’s decision, which was unanimous.
Recalling the discussion in 2021, he said council’s latest decision was the first time money had been allocated for the project.
The feasibility study will engage with the Howlong community.
Speed, weight limits
Mr Panagopoulos further updated councillors about the implementation of load limits on Holbeach Street, Howlong, particularly the difficult right-hand turn at the Riverina Highway intersection.
On May 21, a Local Traffic Committee meeting resolved to implement a length restriction of 14 metres on Holbeach Street and to extend the restriction to all residential streets in Howlong.
The meeting resolved that council officers would liaise with Transport for NSW to progress a traffic count of heavy vehicles on Hawkins Street, considering options such as reducing the speed limit to 40kmph between Hume and Sturt Streets, and along Sturt Street between Pell and Russell Streets.
“This would mean vehicles over 14 metres from the industrial estate would need to use Kywong-Howlong Road to access the Riverina Highway/Sturt Street,” Mr Panagopoulos said.
