Traffic clogging on Crown

Surry Hills locals are concerned the City of Sydney Council’s plan to widen footpaths on Crown St could lead to further traffic congestion on an already traffic-clogged street.

The City of Sydney closed its public consultation process for the plans last week, which include plans for more street seating, improved lighting, more greenery and “minor changes to traffic and parking”.

Andrew Duckmanton, a local retailer and former Darlinghurst and Surry Hills Business Partnership President, said traffic at the main corners could reach breaking point.

“Businesses don’t just rely on residents, it also relies on visitors. On the main corners of the strip, let it fly. It’s just asking for congestion,” he said.

“Normally you have people turning left into Devonshire St, but the problem with turning left with an extended curb is that there is only a single lane. You can imagine turning left when there’s a tram coming, you’re going to be banked up Botany Rd before you know it.”

A spokesperson for the Darlinghurst and Surry Hills Business Partnership said the plans – coupled with the State Government’s proposed light rail network to run down Devonshire St – could lead to a loss of access to Crown St for residents and businesses.

“Of particular concern is a proposed expansion of the footpath at the corner of Devonshire and Crown St, which would make it difficult for cars driving north along Crown St to turn into Devonshire St,” said the spokesperson.

“Add a tram going across Devonshire St in a few years on top of that and it seems clear that residents and businesses would lose access to Devonshire St from Crown St as a result of the proposed changes.”

The City of Sydney responded by maintaining that traffic flow will actually improve under the plans.

“The proposed widening of the footpaths would involve narrowing the parking lanes on both sides of Crown St,” said a Council spokesperson.

“This would also provide a slight increase in the width of the road travel lane to better serve buses and general traffic.”

The City of Sydney pointed to traffic modelling that indicated there would be minimal impact on parking and traffic flow.

“We have requested, but were unable to obtain projections for traffic flow numbers along Crown St as a result of foot path widening,” said a spokesperson for the Darlinghurst and Surry Hills Business Partnership.