Wardoo St: Road works to close Southport intersection for up to six months
The closure of one of the Gold Coast’s worst congested roads for six months to create traffic lights has been branded “insanity” and a waste of money by residents. FIND OUT MORE
Transport
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The closure of one of the Gold Coast’s worst congested roads for six months to create traffic lights has been branded “insanity” and a waste of money by residents.
Southport councillor Brooke Patterson has copped a barrage of criticism after a Facebook post where she updated the Wardoo Street major road restrictions between Benowa Road and Cotlew Street which starts on Monday.
But she has strongly defended the upgrades saying the roundabout was overcapacity and created safety issues for students unable to cross it.
Residents had earlier reached out to The Bulletin to vent about the long running $26m roadworks at Southport.
A long term resident on Ms Patterson’s Facebook page said the roundabout had been efficient even when reduced to one lane for road works.
“Did this council get a job lot of traffic lights at some stage. Having lived in the immediate area and used that roundabout daily for more than 35 years I can only describe this engineering adventure as farcical in the extreme,” he wrote.
Ms Patterson said roundabouts were designed for a certain maximum capacity and once that was reached they became unsafe.
“That time has come for Cotlew/Wardoo. Remember Ross St/Ashmore/ Currumburra. No-one including me thought traffic lights there would be a good idea but they turned out well,” she said.
Other residents speculated the road works could extend for between 12 and 18 months with the budget blowing out by 200 per cent.
“Six months basically means 12-18 months and over budget by 200 per cent,” a resident wrote.
Ms Patterson said the budget had increased by 30 per cent and was $26m, the delays due to the workers being shifted to take part in the January storm clean-up in the hinterland.
A resident questioned the work rate of council employees after estimating 1km of Cotlew Road had been closed to 2 years.
“They really are a joke. They closed off half the roundabout almost six months before they finally did any actual work on it,” the resident wrote.
Ms Patterson said she would update residents after getting a briefing from engineers during the week.
On Monday, she told the Bulletin: “When our engineers first presented the need for traffic lights I questioned it — as a regular user of the roundabout it appeared to work fine.
“But after their explanation I understand it is a matter of safety and time.
“The roundabout was only built to handle a certain capacity. It has outgrown that.”
Ms Patterson said roundabout restricted active transport and with many schools in the area, students could not walk or cycle across the intersection without an upgrade.
In February, in the lead-up to the council poll, residents described the bumpy, pot-holed road as “Third World” during the marathon upgrade which was an election promise in 2020.
Work began on a 50m stretch in 2021, and only now that section had been finished, they said.
Detours have now been put in place during the works while the roads will remain open only for local access. More than 20,000 people use the road daily.
Michael Kahler, council’s executive general manager for infrastructure said the project was on track to be completed by Christmas.
“This is a large project and we thank the community for their patience and co-operation to date while the works have been progressing,” he said.
“The proposed road closure will enable the balance of the works to be completed safely and efficiently.
“Once complete these upgrades will reduce traffic congestion at the intersection, provide safer road conditions and deliver better facilities for active travel such as walking, cycling and public transport.
“We ask residents and commuters to be patient, observe any traffic signs and allow some extra travel time during the upgrades.”
The upgrade of the roads surrounding the intersection will cost $19m and began in 2021. The final pieces of work are expected to be finished in April 2025.
Mr Kahler said the work was critical as the city population grew.
“With 20,000 vehicles using this road each day, peak traffic times are becoming increasingly busy. The road is deteriorating and the existing roundabout is no longer meeting capacity and safety requirements,” he said.
“The Gold Coast population is expected to reach 800,000 by 2031 so now is the time to ensure we have road infrastructure to support a growing population and increased demand on the transport system.”
Meanwhile, traffic changes have been made to Nobby Beach as light rail construction heading south to Burleigh ramps up in the area.
Tram contractor John Holland Group has built a new left-turn out southbound onto the Gold Coast Highway from the precinct’s northern end.
It is one of several key traffic changes occurring in the area, including the extended closure of Albicore Street from Monday until late this year, to relocate or replace underground utilities.
Straight and right-hand turns from Chairlift Ave have also been halted, while the left-hand turn will remain opening.
John Holland has put the traffic changes in place to deliver these works in the shortest possible time frame.
GoldlinQ CEO Phil Mumford said: “Traffic control and signage will be in place to ensure motorists are able to navigate the changes – please drive to the conditions and follow signs.
“Footpath and kerb works at the northern end of Nobby Beach, between the new traffic turn out and the bus stop, will also be complete soon,” he said.
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