The day and night operating red light speed camera is being installed by Transport for NSW to improve safety for road users and pedestrians.

Construction at the site will begin on February 24 and work is scheduled during 10 night shifts between February 24 and April 9.

The camera will detect vehicles which run a red light, or exceed the speed limit at any time on a red, amber or green traffic light.

There will be signs on the approach to and at the intersection, alerting drivers that a red light speed camera is being installed and the date it will be operational.

Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said speeding contributes to about 40 per cent of road fatalities including 140 deaths and 4,000 injuries each year.

"We know that speed and red-light cameras work to slow drivers down, reduce the number and severity of crashes, and save lives," he said.

"This has been demonstrated both in NSW and worldwide. The NSW Government's 2018 speed camera review found that there has been a 74 per cent reduction in fatalities and 40 per cent reduction in serious injuries at red light speed camera locations.

"This reduction in fatalities and serious injuries represents a saving of $174 million to the community.

"Our aim is to slow drivers down, not fine them. Every cent from speed camera revenue goes into the Community Road Safety Fund, which is used to fund important safety programs such as school zone flashing lights, road safety upgrades and high visibility police operations."

From 2014 to 2018 there have been five recorded crashes within 10 metres of the intersection of Gordon Street and Grant Street, according to the Centre for Road Safety.

These crashes resulted in four people being injured, including two people seriously injured.

According to the NSW Speed Camera Strategy June 2012, locations for red-light speed (safety) cameras are selected based on high risk locations with the potential for right angle crashes.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council previously received $220,800 in funding to adjust phasings of traffic signals to provide for right turning vehicles from Gordon into Grant Street in 2017.

At that time the intersection was identified as unsafe by council.

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