Toogood Road speed limit: Bayview Heights residents start petition against 50km/h plan

Speed limits have been dropping like flies across Cairns – and residents are kicking back as another one bites the dust.

SPEED limits have been dropping like flies across Cairns – and residents are kicking back as another one bites the dust.

Bayview Heights motorists were shocked to see signs saying the top speed on Toogood Rd would soon be cut from 60km/h to 50km/h.

The revelation has sparked an immediate response from almost 200 residents who have so far signed an online petition calling for the current limit to remain.

“I use this road every day,” Leesa Spark wrote.

The speed limit on Toogood Rd is set to drop from 60km/h to 50km/h.

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“No reason to reduce speed limit except a grab for revenue raising from speeding fines.”

Sarah Stuart-Stracey argued the proposal was not based on logic.

“It is a main arterial road out of the suburb,” she wrote on the petition.

“In the 20-plus years I have driven it, there have been no major accidents – and there are lights to allow traffic on at two major intersections and for children to cross for school.”

All of their protests will likely be in vain.

A utility has crashed into a street sign and a tree near the corner of Toogood Rd and Jasper St in Bayview Heights in January. PICTURE: CHRIS CALCINO

Division 3 Cairns regional councillor Cathy Zeiger said the plan had been signed off by both the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Police.

“There was one week when there were five accidents, so the guys had to do their thing – they had an investigation and basically the recommendation was to go to 50,” she said.

“Then they spoke with the police, they spoke with TMR and police said they really wanted it to go down to 50, that it’s the easiest and quickest way to lessen accidents and fatalities.

“You can’t just ignore it.

“As much as I’m going to grit my teeth about it, it is about safety.

“The time difference going from one end of Toogood Rd to Marti St at 50km/h is 30 seconds, so it feels worse than what it is.”

Cr Zeiger conceded the change might not make much difference to the drivers who already hit the road at 80km/h.

Critical care paramedics and police are at the scene of a serious motorbike crash at the corner of Mulgrave and Toogood roads in Woree in August 2020. PICTURE: TEZ IANNELLI

“You can’t stop idiots but police will obviously be watching over it, especially at the beginning,” she said.

Toogood Rd is just the latest trunk road across the region to have its limit cut to 50km/h, and more are likely on the way.

“They are reviewing a lot of trunk roads in the area,” Cr Zeiger said.

“A trunk road is a major connecting road.

“You might have seen Ramsey Dr (at Kanimbla) went from 60 to 50, and Roberts Rd (in Bentley Park) went from 60 to 50.

“I have a feeling that is the way a lot of them are going to go.”

Carnation Dr in Mooroobool also dropped to 50km/h in March from Balaclava Rd to Beatrice St.

Originally published as Toogood Road speed limit: Bayview Heights residents start petition against 50km/h plan