$8.5 million to improve road safety for cyclists, pedestrians and motorbike riders across Queensland

The Palaszczuk Government is protecting the state’s most vulnerable road users, with $8.5 million allocated to safety improvement projects across regional Queensland.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said last year, cyclists, pedestrians and motorbike riders accounted for 38 per cent of the state’s road toll.

“It’s essential we reduce their representation in crashes,” Mr Bailey said.

“This decision will fund road safety projects in Cairns, Mareeba, Mackay, Townsville, Toowoomba, Gold Coast and Bundaberg.”

Mr Bailey said the 11 projects across seven regions had been identified as priorities through the Targeted Road Safety Program.

“They have been chosen based on a risk analysis carried out by the Transport and Main Roads, and have taken into consideration crash history and community feedback,” he said.

The projects include:

1. $3.47 million to enhance bicycle safety at the intersection on Byrnes Street and Rankin Street in Mareeba by removing an existing roundabout and installing traffic signals.
2. $1.5 million to install off-road cycle paths, minor widening and re-painting line marking at roundabouts along Mackay-Bucasia Road, in Mackay.
3. $697,500 to widen a slip lane to accommodate the left-turning path of large vehicles at the intersection of the Gore and Warrego highways, in Toowoomba, to improve safety for pedestrians.
4. $630,000 to upgrade bicycle provisions at roundabouts on Eimeo Road, Blacks Beach Road and Old Eimeo Road, in Mackay.
5. $511,000 to install pedestrian fencing and a raised zebra crossing on Currumbin Creek Road, between Philip Street and Mitchell Avenue on the Gold Coast, as well as street lighting in Philp Street.
6. $507,100 to upgrade safety for pedestrians, including widening left lane (southbound) and upgrading traffic signals at the Cairns Western Arterial Road, Loridan Drive and View Street intersection, in Brinsmead, Cairns.
7. $382,700 to widen the shared path, install a mid-block pedestrian refuge and undertake minor pavement widening in Abbott Street, Townsville.
8. $248,000 to install pedestrian presence radars and widen the road shoulder to provide a shared cycle left turn lane and compliant pedestrian ramps at the Bundaberg-Port Road (Walker Street) and Goodwood Road (Barolin Street) intersection, in Bundaberg.
9. $219,000 towards the installation of a pedestrian crossing, refuge island and lighting on the Isis Highway (Hinkler Avenue), in Bundaberg.
10. $100,000 to install new line marking for cycle routes on Mackay-Bucasia Road, Sologinkin Road and Rosewood Drive in Rural View in Mackay.
11. $80,000 to install vehicle-activated signage on both approaches to the Burnett River Bridge, in Bundaberg. 

Mr Bailey said more Queenslanders were ditching their cars in favour of other forms of transport, and it was vital they be protected.

“Statistics from last year show 35 pedestrians, eight cyclists and 49 motorcyclists lost their lives on Queensland roads, accounting for 38 per cent of Queensland’s total road toll,” he said.

“Vulnerable road users also accounted for 27 per cent of hospitalised road casualties, to June 2017.”

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was also committed to its long-term vision of zero road deaths and serious injuries on Queensland roads.

“This is undeniably ambitious, but we must all refuse to accept road trauma as an inevitable part of using our roads,” he said.

“These projects are about the Queensland community working together to reduce road trauma through practical action.

“The Targeted Road Safety Program is primarily funded from revenue collected through the Camera Detected Offence Program, which is required by legislation to be reinvested in road safety activities.”

ENDS

Media contact, Dominic Geiger, 0447355565