Man’s death prompts outpouring of anger over traffic gridlock hell as Victoria Pt intersection road works continue

An intersection causing gridlock hell for thousands of bayside motorists after it was closed for road works, will reopen on Friday, weeks after a surveyor was crushed to death at the construction site. | VIDEO

Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd at the intersection of Benfer Rd, Victoria Point, where a man died at a road works construction site. Pictures: Judith Kerr

An intersection, causing gridlock hell for thousands of bayside motorists after it was closed for road works, will reopen on Friday, weeks after a surveyor was crushed to death at the site.

Road works ground to a halt late last month after surveyor Brad Arthur, 56, was crushed to death by a truck filled with gravel at the corner of Benfer and Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd just after 1pm on Saturday, September 23.

The intersection closure after the tragedy, along with the continuing road works, turned a 20km bayside stretch of road into gridlock hell this week and prompted an outpouring of community anger.

Mr Arthur, whose memorial service was this week, was killed after a local quarry truck filled with road base tipped its load inside a cordoned-off section of the intersection.

The works were to widen the road to four lanes at the intersection, which services the Victoria Point State High School and is the main thoroughfare into and out of Redland city.

The Transport Department works were being carried out by construction company Seymour Whyte, which immediately closed down the intersection.

The area remained closed for three days while initial investigations took place with findings to be sent to the coroner.

No criminal charges are going to be brought.

Police have stepped in to guide traffic through the intersection, which has been closed to Benfer Rd with no right turn from the main Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd.

The partial closure of the intersection and the ongoing road works trapped thousands of motorists in traffic jams during peak hours this week

More than 500 people expressed their anger on social media Tuesday and Wednesday after spending more than 45 minutes to travel the 4.4km from Redland Bay to Victoria Point, a trip which usually takes two minutes.

Buses and cars line up in Redland Bay to get on to the busy Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd, where there has been traffic gridlock due to road works and the closure of an intersection after a man died at a construction site. Picture: Contributed

Redlands MP Kim Richards, who is in Ghana on a delegate mission, was unavailable for comment as were Karreman Quarries and road construction giant Seymour Whyte.

Police said it was expected the intersection would be reopened at 5pm on Friday.

Redland LNP candidate Rebecca Young said she had driven through the intersection on the morning of Mr Arthur’s death and offered her condolences to his family.

“Public sentiment is that everyone is upset that there has been a tragedy at this intersection followed by the fact that it is taking far too long and this has given the community the reason to voice their outrage.

Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd at the intersection of Benfer Rd, Victoria Point, where a man died at a road works construction site. Pictures: Judith Kerr

“The works started in 2020 and the residents don’t believe these upgrades are being done in a timely manner.

“The road needed upgrading years ago.

“I was driving through the intersection that morning and saw the two local Quarry trucks parked on the southbound carriageway waiting to unload and the intersection was blocked off.

“The road works, which have taken more than a year in this 300m stretch of road, have created congestion — especially this week for the return to school.

“Residents cannot believe this has happened and it is unlikely that this upgrade will solve any of the traffic problems in Victoria Point or Redland Bay as the road is only being widened in small sections.”

Redlands LNP candidate Rebecca Young on the busy Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd, near where a man died at a road construction site at Victoria Point. Picture: Contributed

The Transport Department warned motorists to add “extra time” when using Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd and said detours would remain in place with police officers, traffic controllers and signs directing motorists.

Two traffic lanes will remain open on Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd for the duration of the road works, but no time frame for the completion was given.

“Access to Victoria Point High School and private properties will be maintained during the works,” A Transport Department spokesman said.

“Entry to the Shell-Coles Express service station will remain open from Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd but the exit will only be available via Benfer Rd.

“Temporary diversions will continue to be in place around the works sites.”