‘Maybe we’re not important enough’: Glenella residents say slashing the speed limit is insufficient to stop serious crashes

Residents fighting for a right-turn lane as traffic surges from nearby Northern Beaches and the Ring Rd have their hopes crushed.

A failed petition has a group of Mackay residents asking if their safety rates highly enough as council denies their request for a new right-turn lane.

Homeowners Ken and Joyce Kelly say they are fed up with nervously waiting for the day a driver will rear-end them as they turn onto Palm Ridge Dr from Holts Rd in Glenella.

The section of road — that continues onto Glendaragh Rd — has been a long-time favourite of drivers cutting across from the Northern Beaches and Beaconsfield areas to access the Bruce Highway.

Mr Kelly said he began a petition for a turning or passing lane after a recent near collision was one too many.

“I’m not knocking the Ring Rd, it’s great, but it has created an increase in traffic,” Mr Kelly said, adding the heavy vehicle traffic was of particular concern.

His observations were confirmed in a road safety audit launched after Mackay Regional Council received his petition.

But instead of recommending the lane as requested, the audit proposed actions including reducing the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h from Mackay Bucasia Rd all the way through to the Bruce Highway, along both Holts and Glendaragh roads.

It also proposed improving curve and crest warning signage, installing guideposts and posting a give way sign at the Glendaragh Rd and Palm Ridge Dr intersection.

Mackay councillors endorsed the actions at a recent meeting.

“I hate to say this but let’s not hope that action only comes after a serious incident,” Mr Kelly said.

“A reduced speed limit sign in my opinion will not solve the problem, (though) it may well reduce the potential for an accident.”

Mrs Kelly said a 40km/h sign was already installed before the crest headed towards the highway but it had little effect, if any, on slowing down drivers.

She said drivers had overtaken her on the shoulder, narrowly avoiding falling into the culvert hidden by grass.

The pair said they believed in the case they put forward and were disappointed about the outcome.

“Maybe we’re not important enough,” Mrs Kelly said.