The details of the plan will now go to the shopping centre’s management for final approval.
Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board chairwoman Karolin Potter said pending that approval, changes to parking will also be made to improve visibility for turning motorists and those crossing the road.
As well as this, a traffic island near the exit and entry will be widened, she said.
The Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board has been calling for the dangerous turn to be cut off to improve safety for road users for about a decade.
Potter said the exit where the right turn will be removed is frequented by pedestrians, particularly elderly people, who cross the road to get to the shopping centre, Spreydon Library and the playground at Barrington Park.
Said Potter: “For pedestrians, it’s always been really problematic for people who are trying to get across the road to the library knowing that people have got right-hand turns and left-hand turns and they’re concentrating on their turns rather than people who may be walking.”
The project was anticipated to start early this year and it was originally hoped it would be completed by May last year.
Potter said Spreydon residents have been vocal about the need for the right turn to be removed for some time and they will be relieved this will finally happen.
“The Spreydon neighbourhood network has been active on this issue for at least four years.
“There’s an older community around the Spreydon Library and I think that they’ll be very pleased about this,” she said.
She said more will need to be done to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists near Barrington shopping centre once the right is removed and the community board will discuss this.
A Barrington shopping centre spokesperson was not available for comment.
