‘Devil’s Elbow’ on Tallebudgera Connection Road to get upgrades after campaign by locals

Broken car parts litter a stretch of road so notorious it’s been dubbed the ‘Devil’s Elbow’. Here’s what’s being done to fix the notorious connection road.

A section of road on the southern Gold Coast has become so notorious for dangerous crashes that it’s been dubbed ‘Devil’s Elbow’.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads says it is planning safety upgrades at the hazardous corner on Tallebudgera Connection Rd following a long campaign by frustrated locals, who say crashes are commonplace after rain.

Ben O’Callaghan, who organised a petition of more than 300 people calling for change, said he has documented more than 40 crashes at the danger spot.

“Every time you go up the road there’s another tow truck,” he said.

“It happens at night time, especially if it’s raining.

“When the rain is falling, everyone slows down, it’s fine.

“But then the rain stops and people forget the road’s wet and they’re just flying off that corner.”

A crashed car at 'Devil's Elbow'.

A car off the road at 'Devil's Elbow'.

Mr O’Callaghan said drivers unfamiliar with the area were caught out because the danger of the bend was not immediately obvious.

“It’s a very deceptive corner,” he said.

“If you’re coming over from New South Wales and you’ve never been on that road before, you go around this very sharp corner.

“And everyone slows down for that, there’s been like one crash on that corner.

“Whereas you come around this other one and it’s not really a corner, it’s more like a slow turn, but if you brake in the middle of that travelling 62 km/h or whatever (after rain) ... you’ve got a good chance of sliding out. And that’s what happens.”

A badly damaged car at 'Devil's Elbow’..

Mr O’Callaghan said the area was littered with glass and broken car parts.

“If you look over the ridge there’s shrapnel everywhere,” he said.

“There’s bits of cars, there’s even a whole car down there, they couldn’t be bothered getting it out.

“There’s bits of car, glass all over the ground, indicators and reflectors. The evidence is there.

“Two years Main Roads said they had no record of any accidents on that corner. I said ‘what are you talking about’.”

More than 300 locals have signed Mr O’Callaghan’s petition to parliament, sponsored by Currumbin MP Laura Gerber, which calls on the department to make upgrades to improve the safety of the road.

Ms Gerber said they were concerned that someone might be seriously injured or killed.

“The corner is incredibly deceptive,” Ms Gerber said.

“Ben and I have been calling for funding to ensure safety improvements are made.”

A crashed car at 'Devil's Elbow'.

In a response to questions from the Bulletin a TMR spokesperson said the department had in the last two years installed warning signs and reduced the speed limit from 70km/h to 60km/h, but further safety upgrades were in the works.

“This stretch has been nominated for Safer Road Sooner funding,” the spokesperson said.

“Proposed works include drainage, signs and delineation improvements as well as installation of guardrail.

“The Safer Roads Sooner Program aims to improve safety through the implementation of high-benefit, cost-effective engineering countermeasures and safety treatments, that target known and potential crash sites at specific locations.

“Nominations for projects across Queensland are prioritised to provide the highest safety benefit identified through annual reviews.

“A reseal is also expected to begin this financial year to improve the road surface.

“High-impact warning signs and improved existing warning signs were installed in 2021.

“The posted speed limit was reduced from 70km/h to 60km/h from south of Dungogie Drive/Valley Drive to Currumbin Creek Road after a speed limit review in 2020.

“In 2020, we completed a safety project at the intersection of Tallebudgera Connection Road and Currumbin Creek Road. The work included installation of a raised median island and chevron linemarking on Tallebudgera Connection Road, and additional lighting across the intersection.

“We continue to monitor this location with regular on-site investigations.”

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Originally published as ‘Devil’s Elbow’ on Tallebudgera Connection Road to get upgrades after campaign by locals