The residents are furious that they were not consulted prior to the installation a fortnight ago, and claim the bollards have been repeatedly hit and run over, creating a road safety hazard.

Mount Hall Road/Irrawang Street is a busy thoroughfare and residents say motorists using the road as an alternate route to town often speed.

Thomas Street resident spokesperson Bob Taylor said the measure was “an accident waiting to happen”.

“I have lived here for 25 years and I have never seen an accident at this intersection,” he said.

“Traffic turning right into Thomas Street from Mount Hall Road does get banked up during busy periods and these bollards will mean that cars cannot pass these turning vehicles.

“Our fear is that cars that come streaming over the hill will not have time to stop if traffic is banked up and cause an accident. There are no signs and no warnings. They should be removed.”

A council spokesperson said that the new road devices were installed at the request of Irrawang Street residents.

“They are intended to improve safety for residents getting in and out of their driveways, by deterring drivers on Mount Hall Road from cutting the corner (at speed),” the spokesperson said.

“Drivers remain able to overtake turning vehicles however, will now be required to slow down which will improve the overall safety of the intersection.”

“There is ample distance of sight for vehicles heading west on Mount Hall Road, to allow safe stopping distance for vehicles turning right into Thomas Street.”

Residents believe that an alternate solution would be to move the centre of the roadway towards Thomas Street, providing a wider lane on the left.

West Ward councillor Giacomo Arnott said that after listening to the concerns of Thomas Street residents, he would be requesting that the issue be referred to the traffic committee for urgent attention.