Brisbane City Council to drop Ann St speed limit as part of CBD pedestrian safety measures

THE speed limit of a major Brisbane CBD thoroughfare will be slashed and scramble crossings introduced in two more locations as the council moves urgently to head off more pedestrian accidents.

THE speed limit of a major Brisbane CBD thoroughfare will be slashed to 40km/h as a new report reveals pedestrian distraction and impatience is the leading cause of accidents in parts of the city.

The Courier-Mail can also reveal Brisbane City Council will introduce new scramble crossings in two CBD locations as it tries to address a spate of pedestrian accidents.

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The council’s interim report into pedestrian safety is expected to be handed down this week, with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to announce several urgent upgrades today.

Among the biggest changes will be a reduction in speed limit on Ann St from 60km/h to 40km/h.

Cr Quirk said the new speed limit would be in effect between the Fortitude Valley side of Creek St to the Riverside Expressway, leaving Turbot St as the only road in the CBD where the speed limit is above 40km/h.

“This 780m section of Ann St has been the location of 10 serious pedestrian crashes in just five years, with speed identified as a contributing factor,” he said.

“This was the only location in the CBD where speed was a defining factor in incidents, with the majority of pedestrian crashes at other city centre sites occurring at very low speeds.”

Cr Quirk said the safety review had also found that pedestrian impatience and distraction was the leading cause of pedestrian related accidents at a number of locations in the CBD, including Adelaide and Albert Streets.

The council will introduce new scramble crossings at the intersections of Albert and Charlotte streets as well as Albert and Mary streets.

A mid-block crossing with traffic lights will also be installed on Adelaide St between Albert and Edward Streets in an effort to discourage pedestrians from walking into the traffic.

“An alarming 16 pedestrian crashes have occurred on Adelaide St in just five years, with many more reported near-misses by buses, due to pedestrians walking into traffic between Albert St and Edward St to cross the road,” Cr Quirk said.

Work to introduce the changes will begin this week, with the council poised to announce further changes over the coming days.

General images of pedestrians crossing the road at the intersection of Adelaide and Edward Streets in the Brisbane City centre - Stuart Somerville and Ruth De Luchi pictured at the intersection, Brisbane Monday 3rd September 2018 Picture AAP/David Clark