One way? Have your say
Bass Coast Shire Council is asking for feedback on making permanent changes to the traffic flow in Cowes.
Bass Coast Shire Council is asking for feedback on making permanent changes to the traffic flow in Cowes.
The project, which will see The Esplanade changed to one-way traffic, is the first stage of the Cowes Streetscape Masterplan, adopted by council in November 2022.
The council has invited the community to provide feedback on the permanent change to one-way traffic.
Under the proposal, traffic will flow in a one-way direction from east to west between Thompson Avenue to Warley Avenue, and west to east between Thompson Avenue to Bass Avenue.
By formalising one-way traffic to the proposed area, the council said it commences the stage 1 program of works to deliver an improved Cowes activity centre.
Council says all submissions will be considered and used to inform its final decision.
Submissions close on November 6.
Submissions can be made online at engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/esplanade-cowes
Or you can mail your submission to the Major Projects Team, Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995, or email majorprojectsadmin@basscoast.vic.gov.au
After considering the submissions, council said it may either decide to proceed with a formalising the permanent change to one-way traffic along the Esplanade or The Esplanade remains as a two-way street.
Masterplan
The Cowes streetscape masterplan underwent a month of community consultation in September 2022 before being adopted by council.
The plan, which will overhaul the township to make it more pedestrian-friendly and less car reliant, saw about 100 people give feedback at three drop-in sessions, with eight written submissions and 43 completed surveys.
While the initial plan proposed Thompson Avenue be one-way in a southerly direction between Chapel Street and the Esplanade, following community feedback it will now be one-way north bound.
At the Thompson Avenue-Esplanade intersection, vehicles will turn left/west or right/east only along The Esplanade.
Initially Thompson Avenue between the Esplanade and Chapel Street was to be changed to parallel parking with loss of parking (to 24).
Now there will be a mix of parking types, including both 45-degree and parallel parks, with a total of 36 parks.
Previously the plan suggested traffic lights at the corner of Church Street and Thompson Avenue, to direct cars to the transit centre, however this proved unpopular and now the roundabout will be retained.
The Chapel Street roundabout will also be retrofitted to ensure one-way, northerly traffic along Thompson Avenue.
