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Millhouse Road and Verbana Drive Intersection

online community engagement

The City are currently exploring options to upgrade the intersection of Millhouse Road and Verbana Drive.

Intersection modifications such as a “no right turn” from Millhouse Road onto Verbana Drive are recommended to improve traffic safety and flow at this intersection.

Let’s work together to create a safer traffic environment for our community.

The opportunity to have your say closed on August 21, 2024. All updates will be posted in the latest news section of this webpage.

Project Background


There have been 14 crashes reported in Main Roads WA crash records at this intersection between 2019-2023. The most common type of crashes at this intersection are rear-end and right turn-through crashes. The treatment proposed would be very effective in reducing the likelihood of these crashes.

Based on the latest 2016 and 2020 traffic counts, the traffic volume at this intersection has significantly increased by 26%. The traffic volume is expected to further increase when the City obtains 2024 traffic counts. You can view the increase below:

. Location . 2016 AWDT (vpd) . 2020 AWDT (vpd)
. Egerton Dr (South of Alverda Pde) . 2,395 . 7,023
. Millhouse Rd (East of Egerton Dr) . 9,859 . 11,868
. Millhouse Rd (West of Egerton Dr) . 11,383 . 15,623
. Verbana Dr (North of Millhouse Rd) . 2,231 . 6,824

. *AWDT: Average Weekday Traffic
. *vpd: vehicle per day

Proposed Treatment Options

No Right Turn from Millhouse Road

  • Eliminates right-turn conflicts, significantly improving safety.
  • Simplifies traffic flow by reducing the number of traffic movements
  • Improves traffic visibility, reducing risks of rear-end crashes.
  • Local community residing near Verbana Drive area would need to turn earlier at alternative routes.
  • Upgrade includes a median extension or modification, providing opportunities for landscaping or tree planting.
  • Traffic signage and line-marking would be installed on Millhouse Road approach to emphasise traffic movement restrictions. 
     

(click image to enlarge)

Traffic light turning signals at Millhouse Road

No significant changes from the existing intersection arrangement, the intersection geometry will operate the same as the current arrangement. The traffic lights would be upgraded to include traffic light turning signals.

Key considerations:

  • Installation of turning arrow traffic lights, providing clarity on the allowed traffic movements.
  • Improved safety by separating turning and straight-through movements.
  • Eliminates right-turn conflicts on Millhouse Road, significantly improving safety.
  • Significantly increases travel-time, due to additional traffic signal phase. Option 2 would increase the average delay at this intersection by 17% compared to option 1.
  • Introduce short pauses in throughput traffic during opposing turning movements. This may increase the risk of rear-end collisions for throughput traffic.
  • New signal phasing arrangement may increase risks of rear-end crashes for all movements along Millhouse Road. 
  • Significantly higher project cost, due to installation of traffic signals and other additional electrical equipment.

 

 

(click image to enlarge)

 

 

 

Project Flowchart

The City has engaged Main Roads WA (MRWA) with regard to the proposed upgrades at this intersection. MRWA as the asset owner of the traffic signals is supportive of the proposed changes as it would improve the overall traffic safety and/or performance at this intersection.

The City is currently at this stage and our staff wish to understand what our community values/priorities are. This consultation is expected to uncover the preferences of the community regarding the impacts of the proposed upgrade(s).

The City will undertake project planning, programming, and design for the proposed option(s) based on community consultation outcome. 

Traffic signal upgrades or modifications would require the City to undertake formal application/approval process to MRWA.

The City will need to obtain multiple sets of approvals and design processes to proceed with the proposed upgrade. 
 

Once the City received the endorsement/approval from MRWA regarding the proposed upgrades, the City will proceed and include this project into our capital works program for delivery.

A detailed planning and design will need to be undertaken before commencing with the construction works.
 

You can still turn right from Millhouse road on to:

Holdsworth Avenue
Duvall Parkway

Let's improve safety on our roads!

There have been 14 crashes at this intersection from 2019-2023

Thank you for your participation

Thank you for your participation

Recently the community spent some time providing us with online feedback about the Millhouse Road and Verbana Drive Intersection.

The City received feedback suggesting replacing traffic signals with a roundabout, adding turning signals at Verbana Drive and Egerton Drive as well as Millhouse Road, changing the pedestrian crossing timing, changing the intersection geometry, and raising concerns about rat-running.

We will now complete traffic modelling to look at the impacts of adding right turning signals for traffic on Millhouse Road as well as adding right turning signals at Verbana Drive and Egerton Drive as part of our project development and planning. This will include assessment of the pedestrian crossing timing, intersection geometry, and traffic impact on commercial areas and adjacent streets.

It is not feasible to replace the traffic signals with a roundabout due to the intersection size and geometry.

We will keep you informed as the project progresses.

Category : Latest news
Created On :  11 September 2024
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Who's Listening

  • Jonathan
    Asset Management
    AssetManagement@swan.wa.gov.au

Timeline

  • icon
    Public consultation opens

    July 24, 2024
  • icon
    Public consultation closes

    August 21, 2024
  • icon
    Traffic Modelling

    2024/25
  • icon
    Traffic signal modification approvals

    2025/26
  • icon
    Safety initiative construction

    2026/27

Questions?

Implementing a "no right turn" typically involves installing a new traffic sign and repainting lane markings to clearly display the restricted movement. The median strip may also be extended out to physically prevent right turns so that traffic flows in a straight direction only.

Local residents will be notified prior to the proposed traffic changes/construction works.

Based on the 2019-2023 crash reports, most crashes involve vehicles coming out of Millhouse Road approaches. 

Removal of one of the right-turning movements at Millhouse Road would remove traffic obstruction from opposing traffic when undertaking the turning manoeuvre. This removal would significantly reduce the risks of right turn through and rear-end crashes.

The right-turn from Millhouse Road onto Verbana Drive is proposed due to the low volume of vehicles making this movement and the presence of available alternative routes within this intersection.
 

Both proposed modifications include removal of the filtered movements along Millhouse Road which will significantly improve traffic safety by allowing drivers to be able to turn comfortably at this intersection. 
Removal of filtered movements would reduce the likelihood of rear-end and right turn thru crashes, which were classified as the most common type of crashes at this intersection. The proposed upgrades would also provide more clarity on the permittable movements.
 

Multiple intersections offer access to Verbana Drive from Millhouse Road, the best route for you depends on your specific needs and traffic conditions. These alternative routes include but are not limited to:

  • Millhouse Road/Holdsworth Avenue roundabout.
  • Millhouse Road/Duvall Parkway T-junction.
  • Millhouse Road/Henley Brook Avenue roundabout.

These alternative routes are expected to have minimal impact and/or traffic disturbance for daily road users.
 

Most crashes and traffic volumes are generated from the Millhouse Road approaches. 

The City will investigate any possible improvements at Egerton Drive and/or Verbana Drive as part of the traffic modeling study. However, any improvements will be sought in the future capital works program.
 

The community will be informed with the outcome of the consultation. Local residents will be notified prior to the construction of works. 

All signalised intersections are operated and maintained by Main Roads WA. MRWA is the asset owner of every traffic signal within the City boundaries.
Multiple sets of approvals are required to be undertaken by the City to ensure the proposed upgrades get implemented. The length/duration of the approval process varies depending on the site complexity and constraints.