Chance to have your say on fixing horror westside road
The public is being asked for their views on an interchange to fix one of southeast’s most dangerous black spots. Here’s what the Government is planning to do.
Local
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After years of dithering, the State Government has opened public consultation on its preferred design for an interchange to fix the notorious Mt Crosby Rd/Warrego Hwy intersection at Chuwar in Ipswich.
Residents have until August 9 to air their views on the project, but some locals and a rail lobby group say the interchange is only a partial solution because there is no local public transport to take pressure of the area.
The interchange, which was floated three years ago, is designed to improve traffic flow and make the intersection safer.
At the moment stationary, queued vehicles on Mt Crosby Rd have to dodge huge B-double trucks travelling at 100km/h on the Warrego Hwy.
Chuwar local Sandra Clarke, who started a petition on the issue a year ago, said it was a matter of time before there was a fatality.
Karana Downs’ Simone Karandrews said the concept plan was insufficient to cope with current demand, let alone the future needs of the western region including Ipswich.
“It also fails to factor in planned commercial and residential developments in the immediate area,’’ Ms Karandrews said.
“This (lack of public transport) adds to the lack of co-ordinated effort by the State Government to address the needs of the western region transport woes.
“We have waited a very long time for community engagement to occur for the supposedly shovel ready interchange.’’
Rail Back On Track lobby group spokesman Robert Dow said while there were no rail or bus services, road improvements should indirectly help the Flexilink Roam Zone D taxi service which covers parts of Karalee and Chuwar.
State LNP MP Christian Rowan, whose Moggill seat covers Mt Crosby, urged people to have their say.
He said a lot of westside commuters used the interchange when heading to Ipswich or accessing the Warrego Hwy.
“Now is the time to provide input into the planning being undertaken by the Department to upgrade this interchange to improve traffic flow and also address serious safety concerns,’’ Dr Rowan said.
What is being planned
1. More capacity on the southern (North Tivoli) roundabout with an extra circulating lane.
2. A simplified northern (Chuwar) roundabout, including a slip lane for through traffic travelling north (from the Warrego Hwy to Karalee) and restricting access to/from Coal Rd.
3. A dedicated pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Warrego Hwy, west of the Mt Crosby Road overpass.
The Department of Main Roads and Transport said the interchange was identified as a priority project and formed part of a $400 million Warrego Hwy funding commitment from the state and federal governments.
“In July, 2017, we completed a planning study into the traffic congestion, safety and active transport issues at the Warrego Hwy and Mt Crosby Road interchange,’’ DTMR said.
“The study identified an option to improve safety, reduce queuing along Mt Crosby Road and improve traffic at the Warrego Hwy/Mt Crosby Rd interchange.
“The proposed project design was based on the findings of the 2017 planning study and seeks to address the community’s safety concerns and reduce congestion.’’
How to have your say:
Due to COVID-19 rules, there will be no face-to-face public meetings. Instead, people can:
- complete the online survey
- email feedback to metropolitanregion@tmr.qld.gov.au
- phone the project team on 3066 4338 (during business hours)
- request a hard copy feedback form by phone or email and post to:
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Reply Paid 70
Spring Hill Qld 4004
Ms Karandrews stressed that while she was not a road planning expert, in her opinion duplification of north and southbound lanes was necessary between the three roundabouts.
“The westbound highway exit should be a sweeping underpass type like the exit westbound from the Warrego to the Brisbane Valley Hwy exit, and allow it a dedicated lane to flow to the northern route along Mt Crosby road,’’ she said.
“This will cater for the increased traffic flow and will reduce traffic waiting like sitting ducks on a 100km roadway, and alleviate the delays from the Ipswich area heading north to the roundabouts.
“The previously touted Moggill Pocket Arterial/ Moggill-Warrego Hwy connection is another consideration as to a site for future connection with the Karalee region for access to and from the highway.’’
What locals have said on Facebook
Belinda Owen
“You can have as many circulating lanes as you want, if they’re still merging into single lanes on the bridge or further down the road it won’t make a difference. The issue is the westbound cars from Brisbane going around the roundabout to double back over the freeway toward Karalee. This blocks the freeway, as well as traffic down Mount Crosby Rd. You need a second exit/entry point into the area — probably before this exit into Karalee/Barellan Point.
Victoria Hoffie
The bridge needs to be 4 lanes to increase flow.
Jason Da
The exit west bound should be (current exit to round about for businesses and Ipswich) and a 2nd one that goes under Mt Crosby Rd bridge and wrap around on to Mt Crosby Rd just before the bridge. But yes, the bridge needs more lanes.
The amount of times I’ve nearly been wiped out by trucks while I wait to exit ...
One time while I had my newborn baby with me I actually had to throw my vehicle to the left, on to the grass, to get off the road as a truck was coming at full speed and locking it up in a cloud of smoke.
Steve Franklin
Surely they will have a public meeting about this. I travel this route usually more than twice daily and rarely if ever see bikes or pedestrians. I understand the need to keep them safe but the congestion and ineptitude of people merging and using roundabouts incorrectly astounds me. This plan does nothing to get the queuing traffic east and westbound off the 100km/h lanes. It doesn’t address the morning and afternoon traffic clogging either side of Mt Crosby road. We can’t afford to have this work done and then find out it didn’t work!