Mowbray Road Safety Update
Published on 26 February 2025
December 2025
A concept design and associated cost estimate has been developed that was used to apply for funding under the Safer Roads Program in October 2025. The concept design includes the following features:
- Installation of a double Bowe kerb on the centreline of Mowbray Road
- Installation of a single Bowe kerb on the Lane Cove side edge line
- Increasing the superelevation of the road including drainage works to prevent water ponding on the road
- Realignment of the lanes to maximise the curve radius of the bend
- Re-construction of the existing islands
The double-sided Bowe kerb on the centreline is designed to act as a safety barrier to prevent head-on crashes whilst the Bowe kerb on the Lane Cove side edge line is designed to create a visual deterrent to discourage vehicles from travelling at high speed. Bowe kerbs are also redirective kerbs that guide wayward vehicles back into the travel lane after impact, preventing them from leaving the road or crossing into opposing traffic.
There are two geometric bends in the roadway at this location with different radii. The realignment will create two similar curves connected with a short straight section that will achieve the largest practical radii for the bend that is possible. The realignment of the lanes and increased the radius of the bend will provide a more forgiving environment for vehicles.
The improvement of the superelevation of the roadway with associated drainage is designed to minimise water pooling and reduce the risk of skidding during wet weather conditions. A copy of the concept for the safety improvement works can be viewed however these are for discussion purposes only.
Council is hoping to find out the outcome of the funding application by July 2026.
In addition to the above works Council was successful in obtaining a grant from TfNSW to install another electronic vehicle activated sign. This sign is ready for installation subject to final approval from Jemena due to the presence of a gas main in the area.
February 2025
In recent years a number of measures have been introduced along Mowbray Road in Lane Cove North to help improve road safety.
This includes the installation of guard rails, high friction pavement, speed advisory signs and an electronic speed sign.
In September 2022 more extensive works were undertaken to fix the superelevation of the road in the vicinity of 426-432 Mowbray Road and narrow the lane width to direct the path of traffic.
More recently Council has been investigating options to potentially increase the radius of the bend and/or install a centre island with redirective kerbs.
These two concepts have been discussed with Transport for NSW and Willoughby Council and will hopefully be the subject of a grant funding application in the next quarter.
As part of our ongoing monitoring of safety on Mowbray Road, Council has been reviewing the average speed along the road using the data from the electronic speed sign.
The data shows that 85% of Mowbray Road users travel at 51km/h and while there were four instances where drivers clocked more than 90km/h, overall less than 1% of drivers were in excess of 60km/h.
This information complements the Lane Cove North Speed Reduction project introduced by Council in 2024 which seeks to reduce the average speed in the area.
A number of traffic calming measures have already been installed as part of the project including 17 speed humps and linemarking along 7 streets as part of the move to designate the whole area as 40km/h.
Find out more about the Lane Cove North Speed Reduction project