Roundabout under fire — and work hasn’t even started
It’s one of Brisbane’s most notorious chokepoints, and now two solutions have been offered to get traffic flowing. But critics have pointed out a number of problems - including one glaring omission.
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INDOOROOPILLY roundabout, one of Brisbane’s most notorious chokepoints, could get either an overpass or a signalised T-intersection under two designs options released yesterday by Council.
The upgrade could save commuters as much as 43 seconds during peak periods, Council claimed.
But a bicycle lobby group has slammed both designs, saying they did not connect to the $60 million Western Bikeway — or any other bikeway.
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Councillor Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) also attacked the two preferred designs, saying motorists pouring off the Walter Taylor Bridge from the southside had been ignored despite her repeated pleas.
“The proposed Moggill Rd intersection upgrade will be diabolical for traffic from the southwestern suburbs if it is not done properly,’’ Cr Johnston said.
“The lack of detailed design information is woeful and there is no upgrade along Coonan St, as promised by the Lord Mayor (Adrian Schrinner).
“I urge residents to attend a public meeting, ask questions and demand a better design for drivers and cyclists coming across the Walter Taylor Bridge.’’
Brisbane West Bicycle User Group co-convener, Chris Cox, said while all bike lanes were welcome, the new on-road bike lanes on Moggill Rd needed to have a physical barrier separating cyclists from motorists “otherwise they will just be for the fit and the fearless’’.
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He said there was no detail on the extra footpaths and whether they would be shared use for both pedestrians and cyclists, which would be necessary for cyclists to access the area.
but his main concern was the lack of connectivity with the proposed Indooroopilly Riverwalk and Western Bikeway.
“To connect to Riverwalk, which they say is one of the benefits of the project, they would need something running parallel to coonan St or even on Clarence Rd, connecting up with perhaps Keating St and Lambert Rd, which is where the Riverwalk will exit,’’ he said.
“The designs are of course preliminary, but these are the things we want to get on the agenda.’’
Public consultation on the upgrade will be held at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre on September 14, from 9-11am, and September 19, from 6-8pm, at the food court on level three.
“Residents are now invited to give feedback on the two design options, with information sessions scheduled, giving residents an opportunity to talk about the upgrade in-person with the project team,” Cr James Mackay (Walter Taylor) said.
Federal LNP MP for Ryan, Julian Simmonds, announced during the election that the Morrison Government would spend $25 million on an upgrade, with Council chipping in extra.
“The federal funds I’ve secured have kickstarted this long awaited project,’’ Mr Simmonds said.
“Prior to the election, I spoke about the importance of fixing bottlenecks on Moggill Rd such as the Indooroopilly roundabout and I will continue to push that this project be delivered as a soon as possible.
“Residents need to get behind this project by being part of the consultation and showing their overwhelming support to help me bust local congestion.”
Cr Schrinner said it was one of Brisbane’s busiest roundabouts and had a high crash history, with 32 incidents recorded between 2013 and 2018 with 10 requiring hospitalisation and a further 17 requiring medical treatment.
“About 55,000 vehicles travel through the intersection every day and this high traffic volume causes major queue lengths along the approaches to the intersection,” he said.
Transport minister Mark Bailey accused Cr Schrinner of ignoring the bottleneck on the Walter Taylor Bridge.
“This is just another blow for residents by an LNP council who spent $650 million gold plating Kingsford Smith Drive,’’ he said.
“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 Street.
“It’s time the appointed Lord Mayor starts listening to southside residents, stump up funding and at least begin design work on a second bridge linking Indooroopilly with Chelmer.’’
A newsletter, which was delivered to residents yesterday, said both options involved replacing the roundabout with a signalised intersection.
It said option B would cut commute times for inbound traffic using coonan St in the morning peak, improving traffic flow over the Walter Taylor Bridge.
However, it provided no estimate of time savings.
The newsletter also said Council was “investigating providing additional benefits’’ on Coonan St but did not specify what those were or any time frame.
Both options provided significant safety improvements for all road users, with option B providing extra travel time benefits, the newsletter read.
“Bicycle lanes will be added to both sides of Moggill Rd, to improve safety and accessibility for cyclists,’’ it read.
“These will improve active transport options for residents in Brisbane’s southwest suburbs,
linking into the future Indooroopilly Riverwalk, and create opportunities for potential future active transport infrastructure in the broader cycling network.
“The project will improve safety for all road users, by removing all right-turn movements at the Keating St and Coonan St intersection.
“Option B offers travel time benefits for road users, particularly travelling along Moggill Rd in the morning and afternoon peak periods.
“Morning commuters will save 43 seconds travelling inbound and approximately 26 seconds in the afternoon peak outbound along Moggill Rd.
“Council are (sic) investigating providing additional benefits to the broader Indooroopilly road network, including Coonan St and Westminster Rd intersection and Coonan St and Allwood St, near the Indooroopilly Train Station.’’
After the community feedback, the business case would be finalised and released to the public. Detailed designs were due by mid-2020.
OPTION A (T INTERSECTION):
• two through lanes in each direction on Moggill Rd
• two right turn lanes and two left turn lanes from Moggill Rd into Coonan St
• two right turn lanes and two left turn lanes from Coonan St on to Moggill Rd
• changed access at Keating St and Coonan St to left in, left out, to improve safety and traffic flow on Coonan St
• changes to left turn movements at the Moggill Rd intersections with Payne S and Nelson Pde, removal of the right turn movements at Nelson Pde
• new on-road bicycle lanes along Moggill Rd, between Payne St and Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
• extra sections of footpath through the project
OPTION B (OVERPASS)
• construction of a new road bridge, taking Coonan St over Moggill Rd, this will allow through traffic on Moggill Rd to flow freely
• upgrade to the existing service road to connect the Coonan St bridge with Moggill Rd
• changed access at Keating St to left in, left out, to improve safety and traffic flow on Moggill Rd
• changes to left turn movements at the Moggill Rd intersections with Payne St, Nelson Pde and Stamford Rd, removal of the right turn movements at Nelson Pde
• new on-road bicycle lanes along Moggill Rd, between Payne St and Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
• extra sections of footpath through the project
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