Safer Roads Sooner projects announced for Wide Bay Burnett

Published Thursday, 14 September, 2017 at 08:43 AM

Acting Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports
The Honourable Steven Miles

Ten projects worth $1.6 million across the Wide Bay Burnett District have been given the green light for 2017/18 under the Palaszczuk Government’s Safer Roads Sooner initiative.

Acting Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Steven Miles said the long-running initiative continued to provide tangible safety benefits for Queenslanders.

“Safer Roads Sooner is a road safety improvement program that focuses on high benefit, cost effective road engineering treatments that address known and potential crash locations,” Mr Miles said.

“Any crash on our roads is one too many, so initiatives like this are vital to making sure we have the safest, most improved road network available to motorists.”

Member for Bundaberg Leanne Donaldson said the Bundaberg region would benefit with three projects worth nearly half a million dollars.

“More than $270,000 will be spent to improve and provide safer turning movements at the Walker Street and Water Street intersection,” Ms Donaldson said.

“$185,000 will also go to improvements at the Bourbong Street and Branyan Street intersection.”

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders welcomed the funding for his electorate which included $352,000 for three projects.

“Works have already begun on the $178,000 upgrade improving Pialba–Burrum Heads Road and $160,000 will be invested improving visibility of traffic signals on Saltwater Creek Road at the Woodstock Road intersection,” he said.

“Any funding being spent on upgrading our road network for the safety of our motorists is money well spent.”

Safety improvements in the Wide Bay Burnett District will include:

BUNDABERG

-       $185,000 to extend the existing eastbound right-turn lane on Bourbong Street at the Branyan Street intersection, alter lane configuration and phasing on Branyan Street, and improve visibility of signals on Branyan Street by installing overhead mast arms.

-       $271,000 to improve and provide safer turning movements at the Walker Street and Water Street intersection in Bundaberg

-       $40,000 to install vehicle activated signs on Bundaberg–Gin Gin Road, installed in mid-August, at the western approach to the Rosedale Road intersection and on Moore Park Road just north of the Booyan Road intersection to detect the speed of approaching vehicles and notify them if they are travelling too fast.

HERVEY BAY

-       $122,000 to construct a pedestrian refuge on Elizabeth Street near the Sugar Coast Village at Hervey Bay to provide a safe area for pedestrians to negotiate one direction of traffic at a time when crossing the road.

MARYBOROUGH

-       $160,000 to improve the visibility of traffic signals on Saltwater Creek Road at the Woodstock Road intersection at Maryborough by providing additional centre median lanterns

-       $14,000 to undertake signage and linemarking works at the Alice Street and Pallas Street intersection at Maryborough to alert Pallas Street motorists of the need to slow down and prepare to stop and obey give way rules. These works have now been completed.

-       $178,000 to undertake safety improvements along Pialba–Burrum Heads Road.

GYMPIE REGION

-       $205,000 to construct a pedestrian refuge on Channon Street near the Gympie Private Hospital to provide a safe area for pedestrians to negotiate one direction of traffic at a time when crossing the road

-       $135,000 to improve signage and visibility and provide a clear zone to ensure a safe roadside on a section of Kin Kin Road near Gympie

-       $280,000 for vegetation and signage works on Brooweena–Woolooga Road at Running Creek Bridge, including vehicle activated signs, to detect the speed of approaching vehicles and notify them if they are travelling too fast.

Mr Miles said works would start in the coming weeks to improve pedestrian safety on Elizabeth Street near the Sugar Coast Village in Hervey Bay.

“We’re investing $122,000 to build a pedestrian refuge between the Sugar Coast Village retirement village access and Emerald Park Way,” he said.

“The refuge will provide a safe area in the middle of the road for pedestrians to negotiate one direction of traffic at a time when crossing the road, and tactile ground surface indicators will be installed to assist vision-impaired people.”

Mr Miles said the upgrades would take place in the 2017-18 financial year.

“Before any works start project officers will contact surrounding residents and businesses at each area and provide information about the scope of works and any construction impacts,” he said.

“This announcement is fantastic news for the region and I would like to thank motorists in advance for their patience when we undertake these works.”

ENDS

Media contact, Dominic Geiger, 0447355565