Player Street connection project to fix traffic at Upper Mt Gravatt
Brisbane City Council will solely fund a congestion-busting project for Brisbane’s south after waiting more than two years for the State Government to provide support.
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BRISBANE City Council will solely fund a congestion-busting project in Upper Mt Gravatt after waiting more than two years for the State Government to provide support.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has announced the LNP administration would progress the $11.2 million Player St connection which will reduce traffic congestion by streamlining the number of signalised intersections along Kessels Rd, between the Pacific Mwy and Logan Rd.
Four properties have been resumed on Kessels Rd and Pickworth St to create the new connection, despite objections from the homeowners.
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“The signalised intersections at MacGregor St, Cremin St and Logan Rd along Kessels Rd are located within 200m of each other, causing significant traffic congestion and safety issues,” Cr Schrinner said.
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“Every day council works with local residents to help make the Brisbane of tomorrow even better than the Brisbane of today, and the Player Street connection is about building the infrastructure our growing city needs while protecting its unique lifestyle.”
State Member for Mansfield Corrine McMillan said she was glad to hear City Hall had “finally agreed to fund the Player St Connection project after promising to do so almost two years ago”.
“This is a council project, on a council road, and funding was always a matter for council,” she said.
Council will deliver a new road connection from the intersection of Kessels Rd and MacGregor Street through to Player St, which will include the installation of a new roundabout at Pickworth St.
Late last year, council voted to resume 654 Kessels Rd, 652 Kessels Rd, 10 Pickworth St and 8 Pickworth St to make room for the new connection.
To reduce the number of signalised intersections, council will remove the existing traffic signals at Kessels Rd and Cremin St, providing left-turn only access to Cremin St.
A median strip will also be installed along Kessels Rd, between MacGregor St and Logan Rd to limit right-turns to and from Cremin St
Councillor Steven Huang (MacGregor ward) said the State Government-controlled Kessels Rd was a major corridor between the Ipswich Motorway and the Gateway Motorway, used by close to 50,000 vehicles per day.
“Up to 3700 vehicles travel along Kessels Rd every hour during peak periods with local residents who access this corridor via Cremin Street facing delays of up to four minutes in the morning due to the number of signalised intersections within close proximity of each other,” Cr Huang said.
“Unfortunately the State Government has chosen to do nothing to reduce congestion along this key arterial road.
“Over a four-year period, there have been eight crashes recorded at the Kessels Rd and Cremin St intersection, four of which involved right-turns to and from Cremin St.
“A further 19 crashes were recorded at the Kessels Rd and MacGregor St intersection.
“The Player Street connection will improve congestion and safety for all road users, with more direct and safe access to bus stops and community facilities, including the Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre and Upper Mt Gravatt State School.”
The construction tender is expected to be awarded in July and works will commence shortly after that.
Two community information sessions will be held at Westfield Garden City Shopping Centre, in front of Woolworths, on Thursday, May 23 and Saturday, May 25
For more information, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au
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