Nelson Street Update: What We’ve Heard and What Happens Next
Over the past two weeks, we committed to closely monitoring traffic on Nelson Street following the resurfacing and safety upgrade works between the Bass Highway roundabout and the Gibson Street intersection.
Our staff have been on site during peak school times observing traffic movements. We have also met or spoken with local bus operators and schools to better understand how the new layout is working in practice. We have also listened and responded to community members who have contacted us.
We acknowledge this is engagement we should have done at the start of the project. That is on us, and we have learned from it.
What we’ve observed
At peak school times, we have identified some minor traffic delays, particularly:
- When multiple buses depart at exactly the same time
- When drivers do not use the turning lanes and median strip as intended
- When pedestrian crossings become congested due to overcrowding
These are operational issues, not design failures, and they can be improved through better coordination and education.
For example, we are working with bus companies to stagger departures slightly. Even a 10-second difference between buses leaving can significantly improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. And we have had discussions with schools about how their students can use the crossings correctly - crossing at the marked points and avoiding overcrowding on the refuge islands.
Why the works were done - and why that hasn’t changed
The reason for upgrading Nelson Street remains the same.
Nelson Street is wider than a typical local road and carries high volumes of vehicles and pedestrians every day, particularly children accessing schools and SWIRL, the Recreation Centre and sporting facilities. Before the upgrade, children were crossing a very wide section of road in many places without adequate protection.
The new pedestrian refuge islands and median strip create safer crossing points and clearer turning lanes. These are recognised best practice for roads of this type.
We are proud of the purpose behind these works which is to make Nelson Street safer for our children and our community. That commitment has not changed.
How to use the new median strip and turning lanes
We have noticed that not all drivers are using the new layout as intended. Here is a simple guide:
Use the median lane if you are turning right:
- Indicate early.
- Move into the centre turning lane (median strip).
- Wait safely in the median until there is a suitable gap in traffic.
- Complete your turn into the side street when clear.
The centre lane is designed to remove turning vehicles from the main traffic lane, keeping traffic flowing and reducing rear-end crash risk.
If you are driving straight ahead:
- Remain in your lane and do not enter the centre turning lane (median strip).
Council takes responsibility for the concern in the community.
In hindsight, earlier conversations with key road users, particularly transport providers and nearby businesses, may have identified some of the operational matters we are now addressing.
We believe the overall design would likely have remained the same because the safety need was clear. However, what we could have done better was explain how the new road layout would work and what would change for drivers.
We commit to improving how we communicate and educate the community when delivering future infrastructure projects. And we expect our community to hold us to that standard.
We all want the same outcome: a safe, functional town centre that works well for everyone.
We will continue monitoring Nelson Street and working constructively with those who use it every day.