Council will reduce speed limits along Moranbah Access Rd

SAFETY should be the number one consideration when it comes to changing speed limits, one long-time Moranbah resident believes.

SAFETY should be the number one consideration when it comes to changing speed limits, one long-time Moranbah resident believes.

Isaac Regional Council will be reducing speed limits and extending speed limit zones to improve safety along the Moranbah Access Rd from Monday, October 27.

Under the changes, the 80kmh transition zone will start from Railway Station Rd and extend to the Moranbah Red Bucket Rest Area.

Consequently, the 60kmh zone will start from the rest area and continue into the Moranbah township.

A council representative said the speed reductions would improve the transition from 100kmh to 60kmh for traffic coming into Moranbah.

While not everyone using the road is expected to embrace the changes, Moranbah resident of 34 years Peter Finlay said road safety should be the top priority.

"Cars coming from Mackay have been sitting on 100kmh for two hours or more," he said.

"It's not a major change and would only add about 10 seconds to their trip.

"It they can't handle an extra 10 seconds, they have a problem.

"Even if council doubled it by adding 20 seconds to the trip and people disagreed, it wouldn't matter.

"Safety comes first."

Mr Finlay said the speed limit changes would result in added safety for pedestrians in the town.

"You have many people turning into McDonald's," he said.

"It's the start of the town.

"It's only going to slow down motorists a little bit. It's not a great distance."

"But it is going to improve safety for everyone.

"The point I am trying to make is that this change will not have a dramatic effect on motorists."

The council representative said key safety considerations in making the decision were the narrowness of the Grosvenor Creek Bridge, the traffic flow at the Moranbah Access Rd and Cunningham Rd intersection and also the traffic flow at the Red Bucket Rest Area.

Motorists are advised to drive in accordance with the signage on the road displaying the new speed limits and zones.

Originally published as Council will reduce speed limits along Moranbah Access Rd