Business owner wants action on ‘dangerous’ intersection

A BUSINESS owner has called on officials to reduce the risk of a crash on a “dangerous” intersection, seeing several near-misses every day.

DANGEROUS: Business owner Brony Lund said she wanted action to make a risky intersection in Toowoomba safer, fearing a crash was likely soon.

A TOOWOOMBA business owner has called on officials to reduce the risk of a crash on a "dangerous" intersection, having witnessed several near-misses every day.

John's Panel Shop co-owner Brony Lund said she was concerned with driver behaviour at the intersection of Pechey and Stephen Sts in South Toowoomba, just down from the Toowoomba Hospital.

Mrs Lund, whose business is based on the corner, witnesses cars nearly being collected by failing to slow down as they turned left from Pechey St onto Stephen St heading east.

The issue has been exacerbated by the closure of James St for flood mitigation works, channelling even more traffic down the T-junction.

"The normal rules are you are supposed to slow down, but the majority don't," Mrs Lund said.

"They're treating it like a continuation of Pechey St, and the tire lockups (and) the horns honking happen several times a day.

"It's at least three to four times a day, and especially at the end of the day, between 3pm and 5.30pm.

"It is ridiculous, it is dangerous and we don't want to see a big smash, or people losing their cars or being injured."

Mrs Lund, who said she believed a stop sign would help reduce risk, complained to the Department of Transport and Main Roads in June, which said it would investigate the matter.

She said she was shocked to receive a letter from the department last week, saying that not only did it find "minimal non-compliance" but it was also removing some of the 10-minute street parking near her business to "improve visibility for people on Pechey St".

Mrs Lund said not only did the move not help with the dangerous intersection, the loss of convenient short-term parking was a big blow for her business.

"You would think the department would be attempting to help keep a small business open," she said.

"This gives nowhere for our customers to quickly park (for free).

"I told them it was a severely bad decision."

A department spokeswoman said the changes to traffic flow and parking were supported by the Toowoomba Regional Council.

"The traffic light sequence has been altered at the Ruthven and Long Sts intersection to improve traffic flow," she said.

"We are also trialling temporary 'no standing' zones at the 10-minute parking bays on Stephen St to provide greater visibility for turning traffic.

"This has been supported by businesses in the immediate area and local council.

"We will continue to monitor traffic and consider further options as required."

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