THE Roads and Traffic Authority and local police who patrol Young streets have reached agreement about turning traffic in Zouch St following extensive new markings on the roadway.

The lines were painted on the road to facilitate access to the town’s new supermarket.

Last week some residents using the laneway that intersects the Nasmyth and Edward Streets block were in a state of confusion after gaining opposite rulings from the two authorities.

The RTA said the residents’ practice of turning had been legal prior to the changes and was still legal.

However local police ruled the practice was illegal in the past and remained illegal.

The issue was raised by some residents who have turned right into their rear access laneway when heading north in Zouch St for many years.

They were fearful that the new white lines and wide stripes could be interpreted that they could no longer use the lower part of the lane for access to their garages.

Many residents in this block have only rear lane access, and on resident Kris Pointer said the other access point from McLerie St was in a bad state of repair and needed urgent upgrading.

An RTA spokesperson said that under the state of NSW’s Road Rules 2008 legislation, Rule 138 (2) allows a driver to drive on or over a painted island surrounded by a single continuous line to enter or leave the road.

“Under this arrangement if the intention was to prohibit vehicles from turning right at this location, ‘No Right Turn’ signs or a physical concrete median would have been installed,” she said.

The RTA then pledged to continue liaising with NSW Police in regard to the interpretation of the road rules.

In a late development on Friday Highway Patrol Supervisor Sergeant Greg Lynch said that following extensive discussion and in response to the particular island under discussion in Zouch St, police now agreed that rule 138 (2) provided an exemption for motorist to turn right and cross the painted medium only to enter or leave the road as indicated.

Sgt Lynch said it was important that questions raised by residents in the community were addressed promptly.

“To answer that question for our community we believe Rule 138 (2) does provide that exemption,” he said.