Ellison Rd and Murphy Rd roundabout to be replaced with $39 million intersection

THE first designs of a $39 million black spot upgrade in Brisbane’s north have been released almost a decade after the first traffic corridor study.

THE first designs of a $39 million black spot upgrade have been released almost a decade after the first traffic corridor study.

Brisbane City Council’s upgrade of the Murphy and Ellison roads intersection at Geebung will replace the roundabout with lights.

The Northside Chronicle reported in May last year on the frustration of residents, who had witnessed 46 serious accidents in five years.

The council is holding two community information sessions about the upgrade, on July 6 and 8.

Construction is expected to begin next financial year.

Infrastructure chairman Amanda Cooper said the upgrade was part of a wider commitment to upgrade the Murphy Rd corridor.

“Motorists are currently experiencing long delays and queues on both the southern and northern roundabout approaches of the intersection, which is actually operating above capacity in the evening peak, which is why we need to act,” Cr Cooper said.

Council is proposing to also widen Murphy Rd to four lanes from Gympie Rd to north of Butt St, and upgrade the Murphy Rd and Kittyhawk Drive intersection.

The project will also involve converting Marathon St and Blackwood Rd to left-in, left-out access only to enhance safety, as well as on-road cycle lanes in both directions on Ellison and Murphy roads.

Brisbane City Council allocated $8.7 million in the 2017-18 budget to upgrade the intersection, with $20.6 million earmarked for 2018-19. The budget lists $9.7 million for 2019-20.

Cr Fiona King (Marchant) said the project was a key priority before the budget was released.

It has been five years since Cr King said she was “working to have the roundabout replaced with traffic lights” and almost nine years since the council conducted one of two traffic corridor studies on the traffic black spot.

Cr Cooper said there was a growing demand on the traffic network and the plan was “ensuring our city has the services and infrastructure to meet the needs of future generations”.

“Council is delivering an upgrade further north on the Telegraph Rd Corridor to accommodate increased traffic expected following the completion of the State Government’s Gateway Upgrade North project, and this upgrade will address future demands on this busy northside corridor,” Cr Cooper said.

Residents can give feedback on July 6 from 5-7pm at Chermside Library, or from 10am to noon at 7th Brigade Park on July 8. View the plans at brisbane.qld.gov.au