Woodvale Drive Residents Demand Action Against Rat-Runners as Cities Plan Traffic Calming
Residents of Woodvale Drive are expressing intense frustration over their suburban street being exploited as a rat run by thousands of daily commuters, prompting urgent calls for action from local authorities. At recent annual electors' meetings in both the City of Joondalup and the City of Wanneroo, motions were successfully passed, requesting both cities to review traffic conditions along Woodvale Drive and implement effective measures to curb through traffic. This growing community concern highlights significant safety and congestion issues that have been escalating for years.
Traffic Volumes Exceed Design Capacity
Woodvale Drive, which runs from Trappers Drive near Whitfords Avenue through to Wanneroo Road, traverses both the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo. Originally designed as a local distributor road to handle approximately 6,000 vehicles per day, recent modelling estimates indicate that the road is now carrying about 7,500 vehicles daily. This substantial increase in traffic has led to severe congestion, dangerous driving behaviours, and deteriorating road conditions, causing distress among local residents who rely on the street for daily activities.
Residents Voice Safety Concerns
Several local residents spoke at the City of Joondalup council agenda meeting last week, urging the council to support measures aimed at curbing through-traffic. Long-time resident Daniel Biggs shared his harrowing experiences, stating, "Every morning at 4.30am, I am awoken to motorcycles roaring past at excessive speeds." He detailed the challenges of leaving for work, often waiting up to four minutes just to reverse out of his driveway safely. His wife faces similar struggles during school drop-offs, making split-second decisions to avoid fast-moving vehicles and heavy traffic volumes.
Biggs further highlighted ongoing issues such as tailgating, dangerous overtaking on dog leg and straight sections of the road, and vehicles mounting kerbs and clipping roundabouts to bypass stopped traffic. He also noted that potholes are frequently appearing due to the passage of heavy trucks, while students from Woodvale Secondary College "risk their lives" to cross the busy street. Biggs called for urgent steps to reduce rat-running but opposed widening the road, warning it could lead to more adverse impacts, huge costs, and months of disruptive works that would worsen congestion.
Traffic Concerns Influence Planning Decisions
Traffic concerns along Woodvale Drive were a decisive factor in State planners' rejection of a $35 million Woodvale Corner shopping centre application late last year. The proposed development would have created thousands of additional vehicle trips, pushing daily traffic to nearly 13,400 vehicles, further exacerbating existing problems. This decision underscores the critical importance of addressing traffic management before considering new developments that could intensify congestion and safety risks.
Cities Plan Traffic Management Improvements
The City of Joondalup council is set to consider the electors' motion requesting traffic management measures on Woodvale Drive next Tuesday, while the City of Wanneroo will review a similar motion on the same day. The Wanneroo motion also requests reducing the speed limit along its section of Woodvale Drive to 40km/h. However, both cities' administrations have indicated that traffic management improvements are already planned, with limited options to further discourage commuters from using the street as a shortcut.
Joondalup mayor Daniel Kingston explained, "The City of Joondalup has included planned works for Woodvale Drive in its five-year capital works program." He emphasised that Woodvale Drive is a key local distributor road providing connectivity for residential and commercial traffic, and closing it would push significant traffic volumes onto surrounding streets not designed to accommodate them. Planned works include a new raised intersection platform at Duffy Terrace, upgraded footpaths, splitter islands for pedestrian refuge, and resurfacing with a red asphalt median to improve traffic calming and safety.
Wanneroo's Proposed Measures
In response to its electors' motion, the City of Wanneroo stated that its planned traffic management scheme aims to reduce the street's appeal as a through route. This includes installing raised plateaus at intersections with Panzano Circuit and Ancestor Retreat, and a 2m flush red asphalt median from Panzano Circuit to the Joondalup boundary. Subject to budget adoption, the $450,000 project is expected to start in late July or early August, taking at least six weeks to complete. While city officers do not support a 40km/h speed limit based on road classification, they are recommending a request to Main Roads WA to consider it.
Upcoming Council Votes
Both councils will vote on their respective city recommendations arising from the electors' motions about Woodvale Drive on Tuesday, March 24. These decisions will be crucial in determining the future of traffic management along this heavily used suburban street, balancing resident safety with broader transportation needs. As communities await outcomes, the ongoing dialogue between residents and local authorities highlights the pressing need for proactive measures to address rat-running and enhance road safety in Perth's northern suburbs.
