More pain ahead at controversial Indooroopilly roundabout works

Huge traffic jams around a $180 million westside roundabout upgrade are likely to continue after revelations temporary traffic lights will soon be installed.

Huge traffic jams around the $180 million Indooroopilly Roundabout upgrade site are likely to continue after revelations temporary traffic lights will soon be installed.

Work was due to begin on Sunday evening (August 21) to install a temporary signalised intersection at the corner of busy Moggill Rd and Coonan St. The lights would be turned on from 8pm that night.

They would be in place until an overpass was finished, sometime in early 2024.

Five variable message boards went up on site on Tuesday to announce the change and residents in surrounding suburbs were contacted by Council.

The change was needed to allow for the relocation and upgrading of services including water, stormwater, gas and communications, before construction of an overpass started.

“This upcoming change will move traffic away from the roundabout, allowing major construction of the overpass over Moggill Rd to begin, in addition to other substantial public utility relocation,’’ a Council spokeswoman said.

The proposed changes, including the new temporary traffic lights (bottom left).

The temporary signals would be co-ordinated with surrounding intersections to maximise traffic flow during peak periods on both Moggill Rd and Coonan St.

Council and the RACQ have previously said short-term pain was needed to address safety and traffic congestion on the roundabout, which was deemed to be “above capacity’’.

Last year, 38,000 vehicles per day travelled along the area to the west of Moggill Rd, 47,000 to the east and 25,000 vehicles per day along Coonan St.

Council said the joint local government/federal project, a key LNP federal election announcement, was on track for completion in 2024.

Artist's impression of how the overpass will look.

Many locals, however, were angry at the clearing of large trees on approach roads, noise at night and monster delays — which on some bad days have blocked cars exiting from Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

Independent Councillor Nicole Johnston said she was concerned residents travelling through her ward, over the Walter Taylor Bridge from Chelmer/Sherwood/Graceville and along Coonan St, would be disadvantaged and traffic on Moggill Rd prioritised.

Traffic crawls along Moggill Rd near the roundabout in late 2020. It is being upgraded to tackle congestion and safety problems. Picture: Liam Kidston

In August last year it was revealed the two levels of government would inject an extra $56 million into construction works, and some upgrades on approach roads, taking the project cost from $126 million to $182 million.

Moggill Rd and the Centenary Mwy consistently make it into RACQ’s list of Brisbane’s 10 most-congested roads.