Locals See Problems With Cleveland Street Traffic Flow Changes in Surry Hills, Redfern

Transport for NSW has been distributing leaflets among residents of Surry Hills and Redfern, announcing that it’s seeking feedback on the planned traffic flow changes on the long stretch of Cleveland Street.

However, some locals are pushing back on the proposal as concerns of clogging on the intersecting streets have been raised, despite Transport for NSW saying that it will improve the safety issues of this key east-west road.

Among the changes include:

Reducing the speed limit of Cleveland Street, between City Road and Anzac Parade, to 40km/h
Installing new traffic lights on the intersections
Removing right turn access from Cleveland Street to Wilton Street, Walker Street, Young Street and Crown Steet
Returning the left turn access on Cleveland Street to Baptist Street
Installing “No Right Turn” signs on the concerning streets

But members of the Cleveland Street Action Group said that the traffic flow changes will open the possibility of motorists creating “rat runs” or unintended short cuts in the side streets so drivers could avoid heavy traffic and other obstacles.

In particular, backstreets like Boronia, Rainford and Mort Streetshave been identified as potential rat runs.

“These intersection improvements will improve Cleveland St traffic flows at the expense of local roads, adding to dramatic changes in local amenity and increased risks of vehicular conflict with pedestrians, cyclists and people (men, women and children). Increased traffic does not help property values either,” Annette Tolhurst, the group’s coordinator, said.

Ms Tolhurst said that they are not asking Transport for NSW to scrap the plan but for the agency to do a “proper impact assessment” by listening to the community.

“Our only hope is to try to have it paused until proper consultation can happen,” the coordinator said.

The group also called on residents of Surry Hills and Redfern to complete the survey from Transport for NSW.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that the State Government should hold off on its plans to implement the changes after proper consultation.

An average of 49,000 motorists use Cleveland Street on a weekly basis. From 2014 to 2019, about 217 crashes were reported on the busy road, which has resulted in 42 serious accident cases, including one death.