Traffic lights at the intersection of Whylandra and East streets will replace an existing zebra crossing and crossing supervisor.

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) will spend $500,000 installing traffic lights, doing a pavement upgrade and widening the road to make way for the lights.

The intersection at Whylandra and East streets has been a hotly debated issue for parents of Dubbo West Public, St Pius X and Dubbo College Delroy Campus schools, and Dubbo West Preschool, after the RTA decided to remove supervisors from the crossing in 2005.

The removal of the crossing supervisors was met with such resistance that the RTA abandoned the idea.

Independent Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell, who has lobbied for improved safety measures in the area since 2005, praised the RTA’s decision to install the four sets of lights.

A spokesperson for Dawn Fardell said the uproar by parents in 2005 rang alarm bells for the RTA and forced them to take action.

“It’s a welcome decision after years of hard work from parents and residents of West Dubbo,” the spokesperson said.

“The traffic is just increasing … I’m sure there will be a lot of happy parents.”

The four sets of lights will replace the school zone speed limit of 40km/h and allow children to cross with the assistance of the lights.

Dubbo City Council’s Works and Services manager Ian Bailey said the joint project would also improve the traffic flow.

The RTA initiative has been contracted to a private firm and will be assisted by a local roadworks team.

Exclusive right- and left-hand turn lanes east/west in East Street will be created as will two through lanes on the roadworks’ completion.

The works are set to begin on June 2 and be finished by the end of July.

seona.cremasco@ruralpress.com