Palm Beach intersection to undergo overhaul to make road safer

A “notorious intersection” on the southern Gold Coast will undergo an extensive overhaul to prevent more motorists being injured or killed.

A “NOTORIOUS intersection” at Palm Beach will undergo an extensive overhaul to prevent more motorists being injured or killed.

The busy black spot where Tahiti and Palm Beach Avenues intersect — the location of five “casualties” since 2011 — will be improved by way of $368,000 in Federal Government funding.

Federal Member for McPherson Karen Andrews announced the funding at the intersection on Wednesday.

NOTORIOUS COAST BOTTLENECK INTERSECTION UPGRADED

A two car crash on the intersection of Thrower Drive and the Gold Coast Highway at Palm Beach.

The Liberal National Party politician said the site just off the M1 was a dangerous location for drivers and cyclists sharing the road.

As part of the improvements, a splitter kerb and bicycle awareness markers will be installed, while the centre island and medians will be modified.

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The footpath by the intersection will also be upgraded.

One journalist speaking with Ms Andrews expressed his frustration over roundabout foliage obstructing views through the intersection.

Police and ambulance services at the scene of a crash in Palm Beach.

Ms Andrews took that suggestion on-board and indicated the improvements could also see such foliage removed.

COAST INTERSECTION NAMED WORST IN STATE

“It’s a notorious intersection. It’s one that in the period (between) 2011 to 2016 there was five casualties,” she said.

“That’s more than enough to qualify for black spot funding from the Liberal National Government.”

The intersection was particularly “dangerous for our cyclists”, Ms Andrews said.

“We need to make this intersection safe for them.

“I’m actually really keen that we take out all of the foliage from the centre now so we make it much easier for people to be able to see. Visibility is a significant issue. So I’ve had that as a suggestion, so I’m happy to push forward to make the changes we need here.”

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Ms Andrews was unable to provide more detail on crashes involving injury at the intersection since 2011.

She did raise “countless other incidents where fortunately no one was hurt”.

When asked if any other black spots in the Gold Coast were of particular concern, Ms Andrews said she would turn to residents, who are able to nominate locations for future Black Spot Program projects.

To nominate a black spot visit investment.infrastructure.gov.au online.