Fears pedestrians could be ‘mowed down’ at dangerous Chermside intersection

There’s been a renewed push for upgrades to a major arterial road residents have labelled ‘extremely dangerous’, warning it’s only a matter of time before a ‘pedestrian is mowed down’.

The time has come for action on one of Brisbane’s most dangerous and congested roads, according to a local MP.

The Gympie Rd and Hamilton Rd intersection at Chermside has been a contentious issue for locals and road users alike for several years.

Last year, an analysis of accident insurance claims by AAMI found Gympie Rd – a major public transport route to the CBD – was Brisbane’s top spot for accidents.

Traffic on Gympie Road in Chermside. Picture: Annette Dew

Mother of two Amy Matthews agrees.

The Aspley local says it’s only a matter of time before a pedestrian is ‘mowed down’ trying to cross the busy area.

It’s what led her and hundreds of others to sign a petition started by Federal Member for Lilley, Anika Wells, into an intersection feasibility study.

Ms Wells says the intersection is a ‘nightmare’ at peak hour.

Resident Amy Matthews says it's only a matter of time before a pedestrian is 'mowed down' trying to cross the busy Gympie Road and Hamilton Road intersection.

“Since 2015, Gympie Rd Chermside has been identified by the RACQ and the AAMI Crash Index as the most dangerous, and one of the most congested roads in Queensland,” she said.

“The intersection of Gympie Rd and Hamilton Rd is also the location of Westfield Chermside, the second largest shopping centre in Australia.

“It has 15.5 million customer visits per annum.

“It’s a busy stretch of road which carries a high volume of traffic travelling to and from the northern suburbs and Sunshine Coast to the CBD, as well as heavier vehicles as it is a main thoroughfare.”

Member for Lilley, Anika Wells, outside the Shaw Road Medical Centre, Wavell Heights. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms Wells says there is an ‘urgent need to identify projects and solutions’ to address the issue.

She’s hoping to present the petition and acquire federal funding for a business case to explore solutions.

“I would like to see it designated as a federal road so we can attract federal funding for it,” Ms Wells said.

“It’s a contentious issue, everybody wants traffic improved.

“I think we have to do it properly, which is why I’m saying we need a feasibility story to figure out what the options are and people deserve the right to way in on that rather than just dropping a solution.

“It’s one of those bugbears that hasn’t had the attention it deserves, so I’m just trying to give it that.”

Ms Matthews says she’s lived on both the south and northside's of Brisbane.

“I am very well versed in those routes and it’s challenges,” she said.

“That intersection in particular I have approached from all directions at all times of the day. It’s an absolute shocker.

“The fact it is so busy and partially shares a filter light with pedestrians makes me wonder how someone hasn’t been mowed down yet, especially coming from Hamilton Rd towards the Westfield.

“That left turn to go northbound shares a filter light with pedestrians and honestly about three cars get out on the change of lights at a time.

“I’ve once sat seven cars back from the front of the lights and had to wait three light changes just to turn left.”

Ms Matthews says in peak hours the intersection is a disaster.

“All it would take is one disgruntled and erratic driver to go left despite pedestrians on the crossing and mow someone down,” she said.

“Hamilton Rd alongside the Westfield Shopping Centre has a lot of buses due to the bus station, with buses comes excess of pedestrians trying to make a shared transport commute.

“With that surplus in pedestrians with the excess of cars on Gympie Road makes it extremely dangerous.”

Westfield shopping centre in Chermside. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie said the Gympie Road and Hamilton Road intersection at Chermside was well-known for crashes.

“This intersection has been named as one of Queensland’s most dangerous intersections in recent years where drivers are likely to be involved in a crash,” Ms Ritchie said.

“Gympie Road is heavily congested and has large traffic volumes with a significant portion of crashes being side swipes, rear-end or fail to give way collisions.

“As always when behind the wheel, but even more so on busy roads, drivers need to avoid distraction, obey speed limits and traffic signals, and travel at a safe following distance.

“There are limited opportunities to expand the intersection, however the Northern Transitway project, once complete, should encourage more commuters to hop on public transport while construction of the North West Transport corridor should redistribute traffic off Gympie Road, relieving congestion and reducing crashes.”

Lauren Ritchie from RACQ. Photo by Richard Gosling

AAMI spokesman Paul Sofronoff said, at the time, Gympie Rd was “notorious for congestion and collisions”.

“It’s a busy stretch of road which carries a high volume of traffic travelling to and from the northern suburbs and Sunshine Coast to the CBD, as well as heavier vehicles as it is a main thoroughfare,” Mr Sofronoff told News Corp Australia.

“Several other major arterial roads feed into different entry points, and there are multiple traffic lights and intersections, which can lead to extreme congestion during peak periods.”

The road is also a major bus route, which added to the potential for accidents.

The insurer analysed data from more than 350,000 accident insurance claims in the 12 months to June 30 2020, which included the pandemic lockdown.

If you would like to sign the petition follow this link.