Denison Street: Report looks at roundabout to slow down traffic at Rockhampton’s problem intersection

It has been ranked the fourth worst intersection in Queensland with 14 injury crashes and one fatality at the notorious Rockhampton crossing in five years. Now a short-list of potential fixes has been prepared, but some of them don’t come cheap.

The intersection of Denison and Derby streets has been labelled one of Rockhampton’s worst, but it’s not an easy fix as a railway line runs through the middle of it.

Between March 2017 and February 2022, there were 14 injury crashes and one fatality at the intersection.

The fatality was Duane Warcon, 30, who died at the scene of a motorbike and car crash on February 16.

The intersection of Denison and Derby streets. There are currently stop signs at each side of Derby Street.

The other crashes have mostly involved vehicles travelling east from Gladstone Road towards the Fitzroy River and colliding with vehicles travelling south on Denison Street.

Earlier this year, RACQ ranked the intersection the fourth worst in the state, based on the crash data from 2018 to 2021 (before the fatality).

The Derby and Kent streets intersection also recorded two injury crashes in the same five year period.

Denison Street has an active railway line running down the middle, making it hard to install infrastructure around it.

In the seven days to July 14, 96 trains had travelled through the Denison Street site according to Queensland Rail.

Most of the streets that intersect Denison Street, have stop signs where drivers are legally required to bring their vehicle to a complete stop.

The intersection of Denison and William streets, with an active railway line running through the middle.

There are carparking lanes parallel with the railway line on Denison Street and some drivers have reported it can be hard to see past parked cars when at the intersections.

Another common “near miss” or crash occurs when Car A is stopped at the intersection and Car B comes out of another cross-street and turns onto Denison Street, but Car A doesn’t see them because they have already given way and are moving through the intersection.

There has also been recorded evidence and anecdotal reports of high vehicle speeds on Derby Street travelling from Gladstone Road towards Denison Street.

The intersection and streets are the responsibility of Rockhampton Regional Council, which has worked with the relevant authorities including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Police Service and Queensland Rail on potential improvements to the road safety of the area.

A report has been prepared by Rockhampton Regional Council officers on the intersection, as part of applications for the Federal Government 2023/24 round of Black Spot Funding.

The Derby and Denison streets intersection was allocated Black Spot Funding in 2016/17, as part of the William, Denison and Denham streets works.

For this new round of funding, the council officers recommended a number of options:

Denison Street intersection options/ recommendations:

• Keeping the stop-controlled intersection at Derby Street/Denison Street

• Installation of Raised Safety Platforms (RSPs) on all legs to reduce approach speeds

• Installation of a single-lane roundabout at Derby Street and Kent Street to reduce approach speeds on the western Derby Street leg of the Derby and Denison Street intersection

• Parking restrictions to improve sight distance

• Improved lane delineation and line marking

• Enhanced signage including the installation of Vehicle Activated Signage (VAS) on Derby Street

The Kent and Derby streets intersection.

This concept is estimated to cost $1.94 million.

The rationale for installing a roundabout at the Derby and Kent streets intersection is that drivers would be required to slow down to a “roundabout negotiation speed” before travelling to the next intersection on Denison Street.

Preliminary concept designs for a roundabout at the Kent and Derby street intersection. The roundabout would aim to slow traffic down before vehicles come to the Denison Street railway line intersection.

In combination with the RSPs and signage, it would also stop motorists driving straight through the intersection without slowing down.

The on-street parking adjacent to the intersection is proposed to be removed, as well as the dedicated right-hand lane and additional chevron line marking installed.

Council officers also looked at other options but there were many factors to consider.

The report noted installation of traffic signals at Derby and Denison streets, however this would require the existing rail signals to be interfaced and cabling bored under the rail line, which would be quite costly.

Another concept is a central island with a rail line cutting through, which would require the overheard powerlines to be relocated.

Council has also applied for Black Spot Funding for the following locations:

– Upper Dawson Road and Derby Street and Upper Dawson Road and Canning Street intersections. Proposal to remove and formalise intersection movements. Estimated cost: $901,500.

– Stanley Street and Bolsover Street intersection. Proposal to install a single lane roundabout. Estimated cost: $1,095,000.

– Denham Street between Murray Street and Canning Street. Proposal to undertake intersection improvements and line marking along the route. Estimated cost: $1,080,000.

– Razorback Road “Jump Up” Northern curve and alignment to Poison Creek Road. Proposal to improve horizontal alignment through road widening and improve superelevation on select curves. Estimated cost: $1,894,000.