New international traffic system touted to fix one of the Gold Coast’s worst bottlenecks

IT’s one of the Gold Coast’s most congested intersections but there might finally be a solution for the Bundall Rd bottleneck at the Isle of Capri.

The continuous flow intersection designed to alleviate traffic congestion at the Bundall Rd bottleneck at the Isle of Capri. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads

IT’s one of the Gold Coast’s most congested intersections but there might finally be a solution for the Bundall Rd bottleneck at the Isle of Capri.

In a Queensland first, a new intersection system will be put in place for Bundall Rd, Ashmore Rd and Salerno St — which funnels more than 3500 cars through every hour in peak times — in a bid to curb traffic woes and create a better flow of vehicles.

As part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $160 million Commonwealth Games roads package, the continuous flow intersection system will allow right-turning traffic and through traffic to move through the intersection at the same time.

A two-lane road will be built on the eastern side of Bundall Rd to stream traffic through to Salerno St, so motorists travelling northbound along Bundall Rd will be able to turn right on to Salerno St which is not possible now.

The overhaul is designed to allow through traffic to move at the same time as those wanting to turn left or right.

Tried and tested in the US and UK, the CFI also aims to allow green lights to stay on for longer, further improving the flow of traffic.

RACQ senior traffic and safety engineer, Greg Miszkowycz, said there were a number of positive aspects to the system.

“It will be an improvement and it’s unique,” he said.

Tess Carlson’s view now looks straight onto Bundall Rd.

“Effectively, you’ve got one very busy intersection at Ashmore Rd and a not-so- busy one at Boomerang but the change will split the load so it’s more equally weighted,” he said.

“Plus the right turn into Salerno wasn’t available but with this new intersection that movement is now ­catered for.”

Mr Miszkowycz said the complex nature of the lanes and directions may cause driver confusion.

“Any time you introduce a new treatment it may lead to a few more incidents but as long as people follow markings and direction signs, it will be fine.”

While there is plenty of support for the new system, Isle of Capri residents directly affected by the changes are less than impressed.

In February, houses lining the eastern side of Bundall Rd were demolished to make way for the extension.

Residents living on Rapallo Ave say their waterfront views will be destroyed with the new funnel road to Salerno St planned less than 30m from their back doors.

Tess Carlson said she and other residents found the traffic noise unbearable.

“The amount of trucks that go past — our walls shake it’s so loud,” she said.

“We can’t be outside any more and would you buy a waterfront property on the Gold Coast to live indoors?”

Another resident, Adam Schuch, said he spent thousands of dollars revamping his waterfront back yard which he now could not spend time in due to the noise and lack of privacy.

Works are expected to start in October and be completed in mid-2017.