Lindum Crossing upgrade news: State tips in $40m, project funded
The State Government has finally revealed a short-list of options to fix a notorious Brisbane bayside level crossing which killed an elderly woman – but there’s one thing it definitely won’t include.
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UPDATE 1PM: Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta has said a $40 million commitment by the State Government towards Brisbane bayside’s notorious Lindum Station crossing fails to address dire safety concerns.
He noted that because the funding is subject to “state-wide prioritisation and funding availability”, it may happen on the never-never.
“Pedestrians, motorists and commuters had been crying out for major improvements to the
dangerous level-crossing and five-way intersection and again they miss out,” Mr Vasta said.
EARLIER 7AM: The State Government has committed $40 million towards fixing the notorious Lindum Station level crossing on Brisbane’s bayside where an elderly woman died in February 2019 after being hit by a train.
It comes as the Department of Transport and Main Roads released new information identified by its joint Lindum Station Precinct Study with the Federal Government about what can be done to fix the notorious crossing.
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According to a just-released brochure on the study, short and medium-term solutions include placing traffic lights at the intersections of Lindum Rd / North Rd and Kianawah Rd / Sibley Rd, improving the bicycle and pedestrian crossing from Lindum Rd, upgrading the station by lifting the platforms and installing a commuter overpass across the platforms with lifts for all-abilities access, and expanding the Park ‘n’ Ride facility.
Constructing a new vehicular/ active transport overpass to bypass the track altogether, however, remains a “long-term solution” and the brochure contained a warning about what that would likely entail.
“Delivery of long-term solutions (i.e. an overpass) would likely result in significant private property impacts,” TMR said.
In terms of next steps, TMR said the “potential solutions for the precinct will now undergo detailed pre-investment planning to confirm design requirements.”
“Detailed planning and design of long-term solutions will be subject to future growth, state-wide prioritisation and funding availability,” it said.
The State Government’s funding announcement was precipitated by a thunderous statement from Federal MP for Bonner Ross Vasta, who accused the State Goverment of breaking an election promise, both in failing to commit money to the upgrade and also failing to deliver a $5 million promise of 70 extra carparks at the station, which Lytton MP Joan Pease touted on her Facebook all the way back in November 2017.
Speaking to the Courier Mail, Ms Pease denied it was disingenuous announcing the funding nearly three years ago despite knowing it wouldn’t be delivered until it was integrated into the overall precinct plan.
Ms Pease said she was disappointed Mr Vasta “jumped the gun” in attacking the State Government and that she thought all levels of government were “working together”.
The Federal Government under the Urban Congestion Fund has already made $85 million available for a future fix to the Lindum Station Precinct, while Brisbane City Council has tipped in $40 million.