Transport for NSW is seeking feedback on proposed upgrades of three key intersections in Goulburn

Transport is investigating upgrades to the Clinton Street intersections with Cowper and Sloane streets and the Hume Street intersection with Finlay Road in Goulburn to improve access and safety and reduce congestion.

• We are working with Goulburn-Mulwaree Council to understand how the local community uses these intersections and seeking feedback on the options for each intersection.
• These projects are currently in the very early planning stage, and we would like your feedback before we continue with designs.
• Community feedback will be considered alongside specialist technical advice to recommend a preferred option for each intersection.
• Timing and funding of construction for these projects is yet to be determined.

Clinton and Sloane streets meet as a T-intersection, where traffic on Clinton Street must give way to Sloane Street.

Why are we proposing to upgrade this intersection?

• In the afternoon peak, the typical wait time to turn from Clinton Street onto Sloane Street is nearly one minute (45.9 seconds), and this will likely get longer as Goulburn gets busier in the future.
• Lots of heavy vehicles travel south along Sloane Street.
• The current layout makes it hard for pedestrians and cyclists to use the intersection, due to a lack of priority crossing points.

Transport has carried out initial investigations to determine two options to upgrade the intersection:

Option 1: Roundabout

Pros

This option would:

• allow traffic to flow more freely than traffic lights, meaning shorter delays for cars.
• improve safety when compared to the current layout.

Cons

This option would:

• be harder for heavy vehicles or cars towing caravans and trailers to navigate compared to the current layout or traffic lights. Their wider turning circles mean they need to use both lanes.
• be less safe for people walking and riding bikes compared to traffic lights, due to lack of crossing points and safe gaps in traffic.
• be more complex to build than traffic lights, meaning longer disruptions for the community during construction.

Option 2: Traffic lights

Pros

This option would:

• be safer and easier for heavy vehicles and cars towing caravans or trailers to navigate.
• be safer for people walking and riding bikes because of the priority crossing points, especially for those heading to and from Goulburn Railway Station.
• align with Council's Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP), allowing for a future shared path on the eastern side of Sloane Street.
• be simpler to build than a roundabout, meaning fewer disruptions for the community during construction.

Cons

This option would:

• result in a stop/start traffic flow rather than a roundabout's free flowing traffic movement.

The intersection of Clinton and Cowper streets isn’t a traditional intersection, with traffic turning right from Cowper Street onto Clinton Street having right of way.

Why are we proposing to upgrade this intersection?

• Many locals are familiar with this intersection, but lots of vehicles travelling into town from the south stop before turning right onto Clinton Street because they don’t realise they have right of way
• Northern Cowper Street is currently left in and left out only at this intersection, and few people make this turn
• The current layout makes it hard for motorists to find a break in traffic to turn right from Clinton Street onto Cowper Street to head south, with waiting times taking up to two minutes
• The current layout makes it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to use the intersection, due to a lack of safe crossing points
• Potential upgrades at this intersection call for the closure of the northern end of Cowper Street because of its steep grade. Traffic modelling shows few motorists use the left-in, left-out turn at the northern end of Cowper Street (10 movements per hour during peak times), meaning this is a relatively quiet road and we don’t anticipate its closure to have much of an impact on road users. Closing this end of the street could also improve amenity for residents by reducing through-traffic and making the area quieter and safer.

Transport has carried out initial investigations to determine two options to upgrade the intersection:

Option 1: Roundabout with northern end of Cowper Street closed

Pros

This option would:

• help prevent the risk of collisions at the intersection if cars head down this steep road too fast.
• make this a quieter, safer street for residents.
• allow traffic to flow more freely than traffic lights, meaning shorter delays for cars.
• improve safety when compared to the current layout.

Cons

This option would:

• stop people who currently use this turn in and out of northern Cowper Street.
• be less safe for people walking and riding bikes compared to traffic lights, due to lack of crossing points and safe gaps in traffic.
• be harder for heavy vehicles or cars towing caravans and trailers to navigate compared to the current layout or traffic lights. Their wider turning circles means they need to use both lanes.
• be more complex to build than traffic lights, meaning longer disruptions for the community during construction.

Option 2: Traffic lights with northern end of Cowper Street closed

Pros

This option would:

• be safer for people walking and riding bikes because of the priority crossing points, especially for students and staff of Trinity Catholic College.
• aligns with Council's Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP), allowing improved access for future shared user paths along Clinton Street.
• help prevent the risk of collisions at the intersection if cars head down this steep road too fast.
• make this a quieter, safer street for residents.
• be safer for heavy vehicles and cars towing caravans or trailers to navigate.

Cons

This option would:

• force traffic to stop-and-go according to the lights, unlike the smoother flow you get with a roundabout.

Hume Street and Finlay Road meet at a crossroads, with traffic on Finlay Road giving way to Hume Street.

Why are we proposing to upgrade this intersection?

• It’s very difficult to find a break in traffic to turn right from Hume Street onto Finlay Road, especially for longer trucks.
• Between 2019 and 2024 there were six recorded crashes at this intersection, the majority of which occurred when a vehicle was trying to turn right.
• There’s a footpath along Finlay Road and down the eastern side of Hume Street, but no designated space for pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross to the western side of Hume Street.

Transport has carried out initial investigations to determine two options to upgrade the intersection:

Option 1: Dual lane roundabout

Pros

This option would:

• allow traffic to flow more freely through a roundabout when compared to traffic lights, meaning shorter delays for cars.
• improve safety when compared to the current layout.

Cons

This option would:

• be less safe for people walking and riding bikes compared to traffic lights, due to lack of crossing points and safe gaps in traffic.
• be more complex to build than traffic lights, meaning longer disruptions for the community during construction.

Option 2: Traffic lights

Pros

This option would:

• be safer for people walking and riding bikes because of the priority crossing points.
• align with Council’s Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP), allowing improved access for future shared user path on Finlay Road and footpath upgrades along Hume Street.
• be simpler to build than a roundabout, meaning fewer disruptions for the community during construction.

Cons

This option would:

• force traffic to stop-and-go according to the lights, unlike the smoother flow you get with a roundabout.

Tell us what you think

Your feedback will help us understand your priorities and concerns, which will be considered alongside specialist technical advice to determine a recommended option for each intersection.

Have your say by taking our five-minute survey below or email your feedback to SouthProjects@transport.nsw.gov.au.

What’s next?

Transport will consider community feedback alongside technical assessments and engineering advice, as well as input from Goulburn-Mulwaree Council, to determine a recommended option for each intersection.

The next step will be to carry out detailed designs of the recommended options, which involves carrying out survey work onsite to assess technical feasibility.

We will share these detailed designs with the community once they are complete.

Timing and funding of construction is yet to be determined.