The State Department of Transport has said no to the installation of push button or zebra crossings at Middleton, instead favouring refuge crossings.

The Alexandrina Council is now seeking community feedback on a proposal to install refuge crossings at three locations along the Port Elliot Road at Middleton.  

The proposed locations for the refuge crossings on the Port Elliot Road in Middleton are:

-      between the Middleton Bakery and the Middleton Tavern.

-      between the pharmacy building and the antique gallery, just before the Thomas Street intersection.

-      on the Goolwa side of the William Street intersection, between Big Surf Australia and the Middleton General Store

The refuge crossings enable pedestrians to cross one lane of traffic, wait in the middle and then cross the other when safe. 

As the Port Elliot Road is under the control of the State Department of Infrastructure and Transport their approval is needed before any changes can be made.

The Council say that the Department was not supportive of a signal or Zebra crossing being installed in the town as they would “prioritise pedestrian movements over vehicle movements and therefore negatively impact on traffic flows along Port Elliot Road.”

In answer why Mount Compass and Port Elliot have push button pedestrian crossings and Middleton isn’t able to, the council website says

“Middleton does not have a town bypass road for heavy vehicles. DIT will not support stopping traffic though Middleton due to high volume of vehicular and commercial over-size and over-mass traffic. Middleton receives more main road traffic than Mount Compass and at Port Elliot, Waterport Road acts as a town bypass.”

Residents and visitors have until 5pm on July 1 to have their say at mysay.alexandrina.sa.gov.au

The proposed locations of the pedestrian refuge crossings.