Aussies are pushing for a revoluntionary safety system to be installed on the Sydney Harbour Bridge after two men died in a horror head-on smash last month.
The crash on October 17, which injured six others including a pregnant woman, inspired Sydney woman Madison Golledge to start a petition calling for a moveable barrier to be installed between northbound and southbound lanes.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge uses a reversible lane system which alters the flow of northbound and southbound traffic throughout the day.
The infamous lane four, also known as the ‘suicide lane’ is typically reversed after peak-hour traffic with a green tick or red cross indicating which lanes can be used.
‘Every day, thousands of Sydney commuters like me roll the dice crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge,’ Ms Golledge wrote on the change.org petition.
‘What should be a straightforward commute is made dangerous by the bridge’s lanes, separated by nothing more than a painted line between high-speed, opposing traffic. This lack of a physical barrier has tragically claimed lives and has led to frequent head-on collisions, earning the lane an unfortunate reputation.’
Ms Golledge believes that installing a moveable ‘zipper’ barrier would provide a practical solution to balance traffic flow and safety.
Road zippers have eliminated head-on collisions since being installed on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in 2015 and the Auckland Harbour Bridge in 1990.
Pictured is a rendering of how a moveable barrier ‘road zipper’ system would look on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Petitioners say it would
The road zipper system has been successful in eliminating head-on crashes on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (pictured) and the Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand
The zipper system was used on Sydney’s Victoria Road over a decade ago.
Road zipper moveable 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 metre sections of highly reinforced concrete barriers pinned together to make a continuous barrier wall.
A specialised vehicle lifts and transfers the concrete barriers through a conveyer system.
The system allows for dynamic lane allocation, and can be adjusted to traffic patterns throughout the day.
Jamal Choukri, 44, had been driving to work when he was killed in the multi-vehicle crash on October 17.
A 51-year-old male driver of a Hyundai i30, who was driving in the northbound lanes, crossed over into traffic in the southbound lanes before it collided with a Mercedes.
The vehicle then hit Mr Choukri’s Hyundai Accent with both men dying on impact.
Ms Golledge said it was time the Sydney Harbour Bridge met the same standard for safety as every other major motorway in the city.
Red crosses and green ticks (red-circled) indicate which lanes are available to drivers travelling northbound and southbound on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Truck driver Jamal Choukri, 44, had been driving to work when he was killed in the multi-vehicle crash on October 17. A unidentified 51-year-old man also lost his life
‘As citizens, we expect our government to establish infrastructure that prioritises safety and minimizes risks, even from others’ mistakes,’ she said.
She added that the complex issue ‘requires carefully balancing safety with the traffic demands of one of Sydney’s busiest routes’.
Ms Golledge said she hoped the petition, which has so far received 1,297 signatures, would inspire Jo Haylen, the Minister for Roads and Transport in NSW, to explore potential solutions.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that 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 lowering the number of deaths on our roads,’ they said.
‘Past investigations into moveable barrier systems have found that they are not suitable for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, due to constraints like the width of 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 installed clearer signage for motorists on the Sydney Harbour Bridge following a speed zone and signage review.’
The tragic head-on collision on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on October 17 killed two men
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