Horror crash zone in the hinterland to be fixed with $41m safety works
Dangerous hot spots on a killer road in the hinterland will finally be upgraded following extra funding brought forward from the state budget.
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Dangerous hot spots on a killer road in the hinterland will finally be upgraded following extra funding brought forward from the state budget.
The Bulletin demanded the government fix sections of Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd near Advancetown two years ago when four young people were killed in a head-on collision.
Gold Coast-based Minister Meaghan Scanlon said $7m would be spent on the road as part of the Queensland Roads and Transport Investment Program.
About $41m is to be spent on improving road safety in the area.
In 2020, four youths lose their lives after the driver of the Mazda 3 sedan reportedly lost control, in the wet, colliding with a Volkswagen Amarok ute.
They all died at the scene after suffering “traumatic cardiac arrest”. Shocked emergency workers later needed welfare support.
Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates called for an immediate road upgrade after 16 fatalities, 31 hospitalisations and “countless” near-misses since mid-2014 on the horror 36km stretch.
Ms Scanlon said the latest safety improvements were being rolled out on high-risk areas of the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd as part of a state-funded Targeted Road Safety Program project.
“Many local families and tradies rely on this road – and it’s absolutely important that it is as safe as possible,” she said.
“Work started last year to upgrade multiple locations along Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd. This section of Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd, from the Beaudesert-Nerang Rd intersection to the border, is rated as high risk due to the number of fatal and serious injury crashes.
“We are progressively upgrading intersections, putting in wide centre lines and safety barriers, improving signs and line marking, resurfacing, and clearing vegetation and hazards.”
Work has been completed through Numinbah Valley and on eight Queensland Police pullover bays to help enforce safer speeds and driver behaviour.
The focus for future roadside crews will be on sites in Advancetown and assessing locations where the extra funding can go towards improving safety.
The Gaven MP said channelised, right-turn lanes were being built at Parkway Drive, Latimers Crossing Rd, Tangara Rd and the access road into Gilston/Advancetown Rural Fire Brigade.
“These lanes will provide protection for vehicles turning right.
“Between Beaudesert-Nerang and Tangara roads, wide centre-line treatments will be installed to provide additional separation between oncoming traffic and reduce risk of collisions.
“We are also resurfacing between Hidden Woods Dr and Tangara Rd.”
Speed limits will be reduced between Beaudesert-Nerang and Narrowleaf roads to further improve safety.
“We’ve listened to the community and the Speed Management Committee, which includes representatives from the Queensland Police Service, City of Gold Coast and Transport and Main Roads, and undertook a speed limit review.
“This considered a range of factors such as road function, roadside environment, construction standards and prevailing speeds, along with crash history.
“The committee’s recommendation is to permanently reduce the speed limit from 80km/h to 70km/h from the intersection with Beaudesert-Nerang Rd to 440m south of the Narrowleaf Road intersection.
“This change is especially important for Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd where there have been too many fatal and serious injury crashes.
“The change will be made in coming months, and be well sign posted. Posted speeds along the rest of the road will stay the same.”
For more information on the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road safety improvements, visit the website or call 1800 965 196.
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