A rise in the number of crashes in the westbound lanes on Lapstone Hill is worrying Blue Mountains Police, prompting a call for solutions including a possible speed limit change.
Senior Constable Martin Dixon raised the matter at the August meeting of the Blue Mountains local traffic committee, presenting crash data for Lapstone Hill for the period between January 2012 and April 2014 that showed 27 incidents in the westbound lanes.
The crashes happened along the sweeping bend between the Russell Street overpass bridge and the Governors Drive exit and also further west up to and including the Mount Street T-intersection.
According to a council business paper report, the police requested consideration of reducing the speed limit on Lapstone Hill.
Discussion at the meeting also touched on the need for more detailed analysis of the crash data and whether the road surface would benefit from skid resistant treatment.
James Suprain from Roads and Maritime Services told the committee the RMS would review their own data about crash incidents at Lapstone Hill and consider conducting tests of the road's surface.
Last Thursday Inspector Michael McGill from Blue Mountains Police confirmed the safety concerns about Lapstone Hill's westbound lanes, telling the Gazette further analysis of crash data will be done and presented to the committee and RMS.
"There's been considerably more [crashes] there westbound than eastbound," he said.
"It is unusual that's happening [on the] uphill [side] and that's why it has drawn attention from us."
Inspector McGill suggested solutions could include road surface treatments, installation of a time/distance speed camera or reduction of the posted speed limit.
