Crusade to fix Caloundra's traffic woes ramps up

It's hoped a Federal spotlight cast on Caloundra's growing traffic problems will fast track a fix before people start turning away.

PETITION: Fisher MP Andrew Wallace has started a petition in a bid to try and solve Caloundra's growing traffic woes. Picture: Contributed

IT'S hoped a Federal spotlight cast on Caloundra's growing traffic problems will fast track a fix before people start turning away.

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace has launched a petition, in a bid to drive a community campaign to bust congestion after calls from frustrated residents.

The Caloundra Rd-Nicklin Way roundabout and Caloundra Rd congestion was top of the list of must-fix items Mr Wallace hoped to draw more attention to.

He said locals had told him they were frustrated by the State Government's inability to fix the congestion as the situation neared crisis point.

"The work the Federal Government is doing to improve the Bruce Highway will make a big difference to commuters' lives when construction works are completed,” he said.

"But anyone who lives in our area knows that the congestion around Caloundra is just as big a problem.

"We have all spent too much time queuing at the Nicklin Way roundabout, or crawling on Caloundra Rd. Enough is enough.”

A petition is being launched calling for action on Caloundra Road traffic congestion. Ron Strong (left) is the man behind the petition and Caloundra MP Mark McArdle is right behing it. Picture: Che Chapman

It's not the first petition to be launched over Caloundra Rd traffic woes.

In 2016 Ron Strong called on the State Government to act, starting a petition to install slip lanes and traffic lights at the roundabout.

Caloundra Rd had been named the Coast's worst for crashes by RACQ that year.

Caloundra MP Mark McArdle tabled the petition in Parliament and remained a strong supporter of more action being taken now, before the population squeeze became too much.

Roundabout signals were being installed on the Caloundra Rd-Nicklin Way intersection, but the State Government was yet to confirm when the slip lanes flagged as part of Stage Two would be delivered.

The State Government plans to install traffic lights at the intersection of Nicklin Way and Caloundra Road as part of its proposed upgrades for the junction. Picture: Google Maps

Mr McArdle said dealing with the roundabout in isolation would not ease the traffic pressures on Caloundra Rd.

"You need lights in conjunction with slip lanes, to get traffic off the roundabout,” he said.

"It's critical to get a solution in place now, we can't wait five or six years.

"Not to do it will compound the problem.”

Red and yellow traffic lights will be installed at the entrances to the roundabout at the intersection of Caloundra Road and Nicklin Way. Picture: Contributed

Mr McArdle said there were "five flow-on effects” of the congestion problems as small businesses spent more on wages, petrol, maintenance and registration and the delivery of good was delayed as drivers sat in traffic.

He said those extra costs were passed onto consumers.

"It's a lose-lose situation,” Mr McArdle said.

He said people would tolerate it at the moment, but he could see a time in future when people would grow frustrated trying to get to Caloundra, when the Harmony and Aura populations boomed.

Little Mountain Fuel and Mechanical staffer Geoff Smith said he'd lived locally for eight years and noticed there "never seems to be a quiet time any more” on Caloundra Rd.

"It's pretty chaotic in the morning and at end of school time,” he said.

Originally published as Crusade to fix Caloundra's traffic woes ramps up