Australians are pushing for a revolutionary safety system to be installed on the Sydney Harbor Bridge after two men were killed in a horror head-on crash last month.
The crash on October 17, which injured six other people, including a pregnant woman, inspired Madison Golledge, a Sydney woman, to start a petition calling for a moving barrier to be installed between the northbound and southbound lanes.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge uses a reversible lane system that alters the flow of northbound and southbound traffic throughout the day.
The infamous four lane, also known as “suicide lane,” is typically reversed after peak traffic hours with a green marking or red cross indicating which lanes can be used.
“Every day, thousands of Sydney travelers like me roll the dice across the Sydney Harbor Bridge,” Ms Golledge wrote in the change.org petition.
‘What should be an easy journey is made dangerous by the bridge lanes, separated by nothing more than a painted line between high-speed oncoming traffic. This lack of physical barrier has tragically claimed lives and led to frequent head-on collisions, earning the lane an unfortunate reputation.
Mrs Golledge believes the installation of a moving zip barrier would provide a practical solution to balance traffic flow and safety.
Highway zippers have eliminated head-on collisions since they were installed on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge in 2015 and Auckland’s Harbor Bridge in 1990.
Pictured is a rendering of what a moving barrier “road rack” system would look like on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The petitioners say it would be
The rack system has eliminated head-on collisions on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (pictured) and the Auckland Harbor Bridge in New Zealand.
The rack system was used on Sydney’s Victoria Road more than a decade ago.
Mobile road zip barriers are designed to prevent head-on collisions and provide flexibility and safety on roads, bridges and construction zones.
The flexible barrier wall is made up of one meter sections of highly reinforced concrete barriers joined together to form a continuous barrier wall.
A specialized vehicle lifts and transfers the concrete barriers via a conveyor system.
The system allows for dynamic lane assignment and can adjust to traffic patterns throughout the day.
Jamal Choukri, 44, was driving to work when he died in the multi-vehicle crash on October 17.
A 51-year-old man, driver of a Hyundai i30, who was traveling in the northbound lane, entered traffic in the southbound lane before colliding with a Mercedes.
The vehicle then collided with Mr Choukri’s Hyundai Accent and both men died on impact.
Mr Golledge said it was time the Sydney Harbor Bridge met the same safety standards as any other major highway in the city.
Red crosses and green markings (circled in red) indicate which lanes are available to drivers traveling north and southbound on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
Truck driver Jamal Choukri, 44, was driving to work when he died in the multi-vehicle crash on October 17. An unidentified 51-year-old man also lost his life.
“As citizens, we expect our government to establish infrastructure that prioritizes safety and minimizes risks, including from the mistakes of others,” he said.
He added that the complex issue “requires carefully balancing safety with the traffic demands of one of Sydney’s busiest routes”.
Golledge said he hoped the petition, which has so far received 1,297 signatures, would inspire Jo Haylen, NSW Minister for Roads and Transport, to explore possible solutions.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the government had considered installing a barrier system in previous years.
“Any death on NSW roads is a tragedy and the NSW Government is committed to reducing the number of deaths on our roads,” they said.
‘Previous research into movable barrier systems has found that they are not suitable for the Sydney Harbor Bridge, due to limitations such as the width of the barrier systems and the structural capacity of the bridge deck.
‘Transport for NSW continually assesses how we can deliver further safety improvements across the road network.
“In 2022, we will install clearer signage for motorists on the Sydney Harbor Bridge following a review of the speed zone and signage.”
Tragic head-on collision on Sydney Harbor Bridge on October 17 killed two men
