Updated 24 November 2025

Works to install traffic lights at the Surf Coast Highway and Bristol Road intersection in Torquay will restart in February 2026, following significant service-related delays.

The project was paused earlier this year after underground services were discovered on-site and required relocation and specialised equipment to complete this work.

The discovery of unexpected underground services meant we had to pause construction. We’re pleased NBN has now confirmed their works will be completed by the end of November, meaning we can now plan the remaining works.

Once the NBN work is finished, Council’s contractor can complete the new left-turn lane into Bristol Road and install the traffic lights and public lighting.

The construction program will take around two months, with Bristol Road will needing to close for a short portion of this period. Due to the high traffic over the Christmas and summer period, works cannot occur during the peak season and will instead begin in February 2026.

The electrical tie-in works to charge the system will be done by Powercor separately following this. The traffic lights are expected to be operational within the first half of 2026.

We apologise for the unexpected delays and thank the community for their patience as we work to deliver a safe, more efficient intersection.

Updated March 2025

While preparing for the installation of the traffic lights, underground services were found that need to be moved.

The traffic lights had to be redesigned and we had to organise for the underground assets to be moved. We cannot move another agencies assets for them.

We expect these works to be completed by the end of the year, without any more unexpected interruptions and apologise for the delay.

Updated July 2024

To improve safety and traffic flow, we are upgrading the intersection of Bristol Road and Surf Coast Highway in Torquay, which will include the installation of traffic lights.

As part of the intersection upgrade:

• Traffic will be able to turn right, as well as left, from Bristol Road onto Surf Coast Highway (currently only buses can turn right here).
• There will be new signalled pedestrian crossings on both Bristol Road and the highway, making it much safer for people to cross.
• Traffic from the intersection will be able to enter the service road (near St Therese Church), however service road traffic will need to use the Zeally Bay Road intersection to enter the highway.
• A new footpath will be constructed on the western side of the highway, from the pedestrian crossing to the northern boundary of the church site.

The tender was awarded at the April council meeting. Works commenced mid 2024.

Community engagement on the traffic lights and intersection upgrade was undertaken in 2021 and changes were made in response to feedback, such as the addition of one-way access from the intersection to the service road.

This project, which will help cater for recent and future growth, is a part of the Torquay Jan Juc Development Contribution Plan, a long-term plan which developers are required to contribute to.