The installation of the pedestrian refuges on Mowbray Road is not related to the traffic works proposed as a result of the rezoning on the Lane Cove side of Mowbray Road. The pedestrian refuges are part of the package of works which were tied to the Local Area Improvement Plan for Mowbray prepared in conjunction with the Lane Cove Tunnel project. The pedestrian refuges were the subject of widespread community consultation at the time
the Local Area Improvement Plan was prepared. The installation of the refuges has been approved by both Council through the Local Traffic Committees and installation has always been tied to the completion of the traffic signals at Mowbray Road and Beaconsfield Road. Now that those signals are installed there was no impediment to installation of the refuges which have been long awaited by Willoughby Council. The refuge work is being managed by Lane Cove council and funded by RMS.
The refuges do not conflict with the proposed traffic control measures linked to the Rezoning work. An exception to this was the refuge proposed near Hatfield St which is not being installed at this time given that the intersection is proposed to become a signalised intersection with pedestrian phases over Mowbray Road.
Council has not yet determined its position in regard to the traffic measures proposed in conjunction with the Mowbray Road rezoning. To assist Council in determining its stance we are currently in the process of engaging a traffic consultant to assist us with the following.
- review of the works proposed by Lane Cove for the efficacy and impact on Willoughby residents
- review traffic counts data (volume, speed, direction and turning movements) in Coolaroo, Felton, Hart, Dalrymple, in addition to the intersections outlined in the Lane Cove Council report.
- Analyse crash histories in the subject streets
- Prepare recommendations for changes to proposed works or for additional works for this precinct
- Submit a draft report for review.
Once this is complete we propose to commence an engagement process that seeks community feedback on the proposed changes and consideration of our findings of the above work. We will ensure that every household in the area is notified and would be prepared to attend a West Ward Progress Association meeting to present both the Lane Cove Study and our response to it. Both documents would be available for review by the community.
Feedback from the community will be considered and included in a report to Council, via the Willoughby Traffic Committee that will allow Council to adopt a position on the matter.
Chatswood West Ward History 
The recently installed Pedestrian Refuges on Mowbray Road West are POORLY DESIGNED, VISUALLY UGLY and DANGEROUS FOR VEHICLES.
The night before last a vehicle heading east drove over the top of the one outside 595 Mowbray Rd totally flattening the 2 metal rails. There were no warning signs notifying drivers of ” Changed Traffic Conditions” (these have been erected after the accident). And the fact that they were installed in the lead up to Xmas which is the peak traffic time of the year was poor timing which caused unnecessary traffic delays.
In terms of function and aesthetics they are:
-excessively large
-there are no tapered concrete edges
-there are no paint markings
-there is no reflective signage or markings
-there are no curbside buffers.
It appears as if a large lump of concrete has been dropped in the middle of the road. They look like the bare minimum of funding was allocated to their installation. Lane Cove Council (Get Civil) IT’S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
I am assuming that the Pedestrian Refuges’ currently being installed between Centennial Ave and the Pacific Highway are overseen by Willoughby Council as they are a totally different design and appear to at least have curbside buffers. This disparity in design is another example of the piecemeal approach to the management of Mowbray Road.