Northern Bruce Action Group to meet with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg
Sixteen new overtaking lanes that might cost the state less than $50 million is a small price to pay in saving North Queenslanders’ lives, a road safety advocate says as he prepares to meet the Main Roads Minister. HAVE YOUR SAY
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Sixteen new overtaking lanes that might cost the state less than $50 million is a small price to pay in saving North Queenslanders’ lives, a road safety advocate says.
Hoping to have their ideas about improving the safety of the Townsville stretch of the Bruce Highway heard, a North Queensland action group is preparing to meet with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads next week.
The Northern Bruce Action Group, of which adjunct JCU professor Colin Dwyer is a member, will share their findings with Minister Brent Mickelberg and explain why the Townsville section of the Bruce Hwy needs more overtaking lanes.
Prof Dwyer said there is a need for additional passing lanes to reduce fatality and serious injury rates, of which the ‘Townsville stretch’ is at most risk.
“We have a short amount of time with the Minister but we’re hoping to have a discussion with him and his staff about how we can prioritise safety on the northern Bruce Highway,” Prof Dwyer said.
The NBAG found in their research that the fatality and serious injury rate on the two-star rated Townsville stretch is ‘much worse’ than between another two-star rated stretch between Gympie and Rockhampton,
Prof Dwyer said he believed one of the main reasons for this was the number of overtaking lanes and the distance between them.
Prof Dwyer said the fifteen-year Bruce Highway plan identified six new overtaking lanes for the Townsville stretch which won’t be delivered for 10 to 15 years. He says they need to be delivered sooner and suggests 16 overtaking lanes are needed.
The Townsville stretch, which covers 350km from Bowen to Cardwell, has around just 20km either side of Townsville with a 4.5-star dual-lane separated road with run-off road barriers and wide safe bridges.
Prof Dwyer highlights that the upgraded section of the Haughton flood plain is a 3-star road, but most of the remaining 294km of the Townsville stretch is only two stars.
“We will be talking to the minister about a multi-factorial approach and we will ask if TMR can change the 15-year plan so it becomes a four, eight and 12-year plan. We also want them to consider alternative dual-lane separated carriageways for various sections of the Northern Bruce,” he said.
“It’s not just one factor that is going to solve this. We have to replace very narrow bridges. We have to improve the road surface quality.”
Citing driver behaviour and the large amount of fatalities due to head on collision, Prof Dwyer also noted that behaviour issues and education was another key factor.
“It’s also a behavioural thing, with people wanting to overtake for stretches where there is a big gap between overtaking lanes,” he said.
Minister Brent Mickelberg was recently in Townsville in December to take part in the first Bruce Highway Advisory Council meeting.
Mr Mickelberg said at the time the government made a promise during the election and the council was about ‘listening to regional voices’.
“Unfortunately, far too many lives are lost on the Bruce Highway. Right now our government is committed to addressing that,” he said at the time.
“We need to ensure that investment in the Bruce Highway keeps pace with demand.”
“We will fight for 80/20 funding from the Federal government. The Premier has made it very, very clear that we’re to ensure that the Federal government steps up to the plate and funds the Bruce Highway as well.”
Mr Dwyer’s research states 16 new overtaking lanes heading north on the Townsville stretch would cost between $160m and $240m.
“With 80/20 funding, the State Government’s share of the cost of safety of northern lives is $32m-$48m,” he said.
“If the State Government wants to further improve long-term safety in a financially constrained world, they can also consider a hybrid two-plus-one highway system similar to the Midland Highway in Tasmania,” Mr Dwyer said.
A two-plus-one road consists of two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other, alternating every few kilometres.
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Originally published as Northern Bruce Action Group to meet with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg
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