$9.3 million for safer Brisbane roads

Brisbane motorists will benefit from speed and red light camera fines with metropolitan roads receiving a $9.3 million road safety boost, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, announced today.

“15 Brisbane projects are among 77 high priority road safety initiatives to share in more than $46 million statewide under the Beattie Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.

“It puts fines collected from motorists for speed and red light camera offences back into road safety to save lives,” Mr Lucas said.

The Safer Roads Sooner projects in Brisbane include:

·$1.5m in 2008-09 for safety improvements on Mount Lindsay Arterial Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve improving road markings, installation of guard fencing, speed signs on curves and the removal of roadside hazards.

·$1.5m in 2008-09 for safety improvements on Brisbane-Woodford Road in Pine Rivers Shire. Works involve improving road markings, guard fencing , speed signs on curves and the removal of roadside hazards.

·$305,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Stafford Road/Trouts Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve relocating power poles, installing right-turn lanterns, upgrading signals, installing advisory speed signs, upgrading guardrails and clearing vegetation.

·$385,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Logan Road/Miles Platting Road/Padstow Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve modifying signals, adding an anti-skid surface, upgrading advanced warning signs and line markings.

·$650,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Brisbane Road/South Station Road in IpswichCity. Works involve remodelling the signals and extending the turn lane.

·$785,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Finucane Road/Allenby Road/Vienna Road and Finucane Road/McDonald Road in Redland Shire. Works involve altering the signals at Allenby & Vienna Road and extending the right-turn lane at McDonald Road.

·$300,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road/Mt Cotton Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve realigning approaches and improving roundabout road markings.

·$1m in 2008-09 for safety improvements on Rosewood-Laidley Road in IpswichCity. Works involve installing guard fencing, improving road markings, removing roadside hazards and installing advisory speed signs.

·$900,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Albany Creek Road/Keong Road in Pine Rivers Shire. Works involve installing new traffic signals with turn arrow, extending the length of the right-turn lane and realigning lanes.

·$500,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements on Pine Mountain Road/Holt Street/Hunter Street in IpswichCity. Works involve modifying signals by providing protected right turns and extending lanes.

·$400,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements of Gympie Road/Beams Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve anti-skid treatment, upgrading signals and installing advanced flashing lights on the northern approach.

·$300,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements of Limestone St/Gordon St in IpswichCity. Works will upgrade signals and pedestrian ramps.

·$120,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements at Jubilee Terrace/Waterworks Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve upgrading signals and adding an anti-skid surface.

·$375,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements of Gympie Road/Rode Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve adding an anti-skid surface and upgrading signals.

·$275,000 in 2008-09 for intersection improvements at Beaudesert Road/Compton Road in BrisbaneCity. Works involve upgrading signals and upgrading left turn.

261 safety projects in total have been approved since 2005 by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee chaired by Parliamentary secretary for Main Roads, Andrew McNamara.

Professor Mary Sheehan from Queensland University of Technology's accident research group, CARRS-Q and the RACQ are among the committee’s panel of road safety experts and key decision makers.

“To qualify for a share of the more than $46 million in funding, projects must have clear potential to help reduce the road toll.

“We’ve targeted projects which will make the biggest impact on road safety,” Mr McNamara said.

Mr Lucas said the Safer Roads Sooner strategy aims to reduce Queensland's road toll through smart investment in better road infrastructure.

“The money we receive in fines from motorists who speed and run red lights is being spent where it can do the most good – saving lives and debilitating injuries on Queensland roads.

“We’re putting the proceeds of traffic fines to work on building safer roads.

“It’s a sound investment in the state’s future,” Mr Lucas said.

Media Contact:    Darren Roberts     0448 184566