Changes are coming to Hobart’s Campbell Street after emergency services raised concerns about the loss of a lane for parking spaces, which had to be shifted to make way for a new cycle lane.
Some vehicles parking on the road have been ignoring signed clearway instructions, leaving emergency vehicles blocked with nowhere to go.
The City of Hobart say the road has been identified as a “significant issue of ongoing community concern” and admitted they haven’t been towing many vehicles breaking the rules.
As a result, the 50-metre stretch between Macquarie and Davey Streets will lose all seven parking spots and be converted to a ‘No Stopping’ zone from 7am to 4pm on weekdays.
Hobart City Futures Director Neil Noye said the change will “minimise the impact of incorrectly parked cars on traffic flow”.
“The proposed parking restrictions will help reduce congestion and ensure a smoother flow of traffic during peak times,” he said.
“By implementing these ‘No Stopping’ restrictions, we aim to create a safer and more efficient road environment while we work on securing a reliable towing operator.”
He said the project was “intended as a trial” and not a “set and forget installation”, adding two-hour parking may return to the road once a towing operator can be found.
Work to install another cycle lane in the CBD will begin in the coming weeks, as the Department of State Growth prepares to remove parking spaces on Davey Street between Sandy Bay Road and Barrack Street.
Proposed plans by the City of Hobart to reduce parking on Collins Street for more cycle lanes have left businesses feeling blindsided and concerned that it will discourage drivers from coming to the city.
