Council chooses design to fix notorious Brisbane intersection
The new design solution to fix a notoriously busy inner-Brisbane roundabout has been revealed, but the project, which is thought to be costing at least $50 million, will only save motorists a maximum of 16 seconds of travel time in peak hour.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An overpass and traffic lights will replace Indooroopilly roundabout after 82 per cent of residents polled by Brisbane City council backed the option.
Federal LNP MP for Ryan and former Council City Planning chair, Julian Simmonds, who secured $25 million in federal funds for an upgrade – which council would most likely match, plus other funds from the State Government – said he was delighted.
Costings for the project have not been released but would most likely be well north of $50 million.
Full Digital Access: $5 per month for the first 3 months (conditions apply)
But Councillor Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) said the “refined’’ version of the Option B overpass, which went out for public consultation in September, would benefit Moggill Rd users much more than Coonan St users.
There would be a 16-second time saving inbound in the afternoon outbound peak for Coonan St motorists, but only an eight-second benefit in the morning inbound peak.
“It’s critical now Council has selected the overpass concept that Coonan Street drivers are not disadvantaged in the detailed design phase. Council should also be looking at better functionality of Coonan St around the Westminster Rd and Walter Taylor Bridge bottleneck,” Councillor Johnston said.
The roundabout, at the Moggill Rd and Coonan St intersection, has more than 55,000 vehicle movements a day.
OTHER TOP WESTSIDE STORIES
Billboard defaced for 26 years but estate agent still smiling
Kenmore doctor hangs up stethoscope after 43 years
Uni student’s campaign to fix one of city’s worst bus services
Lime scooters dumped in Brisbane River, stripped of batteries
Two arrested over armed carjacking in Brisbane’s best street
Indooroopilly Shopping Centre’s latest plan to tackle traffic snarls
Infrastructure chair David McLachlan said Council was committed to delivering significant safety improvements at the notoriously congested chokepoint.
“We presented two design options to the community, which included either a T-intersection or an overpass, and there was overwhelming support for the overpass,” he said.
“We heard loud and clear that our residents want an overpass to improve safety and reduce congestion at this notorious roundabout.
“The feedback overwhelmingly supported the overpass option and we have listened and have committed to delivering this vital upgrade for Brisbane residents.
The Indooroopilly Shopping Centre left-turn from Moggill Rd to Stamford Rd will be retained after community submissions expressed support.
The Moggill-Coonan intersection carries high-traffic volumes, with 38,000 vehicles per day to the west of Moggill Rd, 47,000 to the east and 25,000 along Coonan St.
Timings for traffic signals have yet to be worked out.
Mr Simmonds said residents had been very active during the consultation period.
“It is clear they want this bottleneck fixed as soon as possible,’’ he said.
“I’ve had hundreds of locals respond to my request for feedback and, overwhelmingly, residents are very supportive of the overpass with close to 90 per cent of respondents preferring this solution.
“I want to thank the community for being so engaged in this process and tell them I’ll be working closely with the Lord Mayor (Adrian Schrinner) to make sure we can now get started on this project.’’
Cr McLachlan said the upgrade would be delivered as part of the Better Roads for Brisbane Fund designed to keep the suburbs moving.
“This is one of 11 critical infrastructure projects identified that would help reshape Brisbane by upgrading some of Brisbane’s worst suburban traffic spots.
“This joint $500 million Brisbane City Council and Morrison Government commitment will ensure the planning, funding and delivery of these much needed infrastructure projects.”
Cr James Mackay (Walter Taylor) said the intersection had a record of serious car crashes, with 32 incidents recorded between 2013 and 2018, resulting in 10 hospitalisations and 17 injuries.
“Improving safety is our number one priority and we’re designing the upgrade to improve safety, as well as reduce congestion and meet future traffic demands,” Cr Mackay said.
“We’re proud to be making Brisbane even better by taking action to fix congestion at this busy intersection.”
Cr Mackay said feedback from the community consultation would shape the next stages of the project.
“The feedback received will be used to refine the intersection design and finalise the business case for this important transport solution,” he said.
“We want residents to spend less time on the road and more time doing what’s important. It’s all part of our plan to make the Brisbane of tomorrow even better than the Brisbane of today.”
Brisbane West Bicycle Users Group co-convener, Chris Cox, said while the designs were still too sketchy to make definitive comment, it appeared as if cyclists would not be well catered for.
“Unfortunately the revised Option B including community feedback seems to have ignored the feedback from the active transport community,’’ Mr Cox said.
“There is no indication of low stress, high quality, separated cycling facilities for all ages and abilities, as required under the Principal Cycle Network Plan, both along Moggill Rd itself and along or parallel with Coonan St.
“It’s not clear if by closing off Nelson Pde whether that will also be closed to cyclists.
“Having access to local streets without through vehicle traffic is a great way to improve connectivity for people cycling and walking, particularly in that area of Indooroopilly which has limited facilities for those wishing to travel towards the University of Queensland or Indooroopilly Train Station.’’
Mr Cox said adding a left turn slip lane into Stamford Rd was extremely disappointing.
“Slip lane turns are highly dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians, and are increasingly seen as bad practice in urban environments,’’ he said.
“If left in, left out access for Stamford Rd is required, the intersection should be perpendicular, requiring drivers to stop and look, and enabling crossing facilities for pedestrians.
“I understand that there will be more consultation to go into the final design, but at the moment it’s an underwhelming outcome for active transport in the area, and that will do little to motivate people to leave the car at home for short, local trips and ride or walk instead. “However, we know local Cr Mackay is a strong supporter of active transport, and hopefully we can work together to improve this outcome.’’
Main Roads Minister and Labor MP for Miller, Mark Bailey, who has pressed Council to duplicate Walter Taylor Bridge to ease congestion in his seat, said he was disappointed.
“This is just another slap in the face for residents by an LNP council who spent $650 million goldplating Kingsford Smith Drive,’’ Mr Bailey said.
“Instead of genuinely listening to the community, the LNP is ignoring the bottleneck on the Walter Taylor Bridge.
“Residents have told me they’re sick and tired of waiting on the bridge every morning and that we need Taylor Two.
“Upgrading the roundabout doesn’t address the key issue of cars funnelling into a two-lane bridge.
“The proposed Indooroopilly roundabout upgrade doesn’t even include connectivity for local cyclists or consider upgrades for Coonan St.
“It’s time the Lord Mayor starts listening to southside residents and stump up funding for a second Walter Taylor Bridge.’’
Greens candidate for Walter Taylor, Michaela Sargent, said the consultation had been unnecessarily rushed.
“They (Council) never gave residents a real say to start with – just an either/or,’’ Ms Sargent said.
“Now they’re apparently cutting the consultation short after explicitly promising it would run until the end of the year.
“I agree that the roundabout needs safety upgrades — it’s confusing, dangerous and hostile to pedestrians and cyclists.
“In this area especially, with so many school students around, it’s vital we provide safe active transport infrastructure — for example, for students crossing Coonan St to catch buses.’’
But Ms Sargent said it did not make sense for Council to claim the upgrade addressed safety issues and then sideline safety for cyclists, pedestrians and e-scooter users.
“Locals have been pointing this out to Council over the past few months and I’m glad they’ve made some changes, but there’s still no additional cycling infrastructure, and parts of this new plan are actually even more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians — like slip lanes and a confusing turn off Moggill Rd onto Stamford Rd,’’ she said.
“The roundabout is within a Priority Area in the Principle Network Cycle Plan, yet Council’s plan includes dangerous on-road bike lanes and completely ignores Coonan St.
“The upgrade should include physically separated, low-stress bike lanes, and connect with the new Western Bikeway.
“It’s good to see Council has added some footpaths, but they must be wide and safely separated paths accessible to pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities.
“Despite long-standing State government plans on Moggill Rd, there are also no dedicated bus lanes, or extra bus stops.
“We need dedicated bus priority lanes on Moggill Rd to get the 444, 435, 430, 450 buses and others moving faster. ‘’
She said there were multiple, significant developments already approved nearby, and it was likely the surrounding population would grow significantly in the next few years.
“This is a perfect example of where Council should be planning for the future rather than rushing through short-term, inadequate ‘solutions’ like this — all to save commuters in cars just 8-16 seconds in peak-hour traffic.”
Knitting queen named Qld’s kindest person
Logan’s Pamela Tatt, founder of Knit 4 Charities, has been named Queensland’s finalist in the national search for Australia’s kindest person, organised by retailer Black Pepper.
The student, the desperate plea … and our horror highway
Queensland’s worst road is again in the firing line, with calls for urgent safety upgrades and government action after a schoolgirl became the latest victim.