The Coast’s worst intersection faces more delays as council works on safety solution

The city’s longest and most disruptive transport upgrade is facing further delays, with angry residents wanting to know “who is responsible for this poo fight”.

One of the city’s longest and most disruptive transport upgrades is facing further delays, with angry residents wanting to know “who is responsible for this poo fight”.

Southport councillor Brooke Patterson has updated residents about an upgrade to the busy Cotlew roundabout at Ashmore, prompting motorists to ridicule the council administration.

In a post on her Facebook page, Ms Patterson said she has been advised that safety issues had forced a rethink of the work, with several roads having to be closed.

She said city officers had undertaken works to maximise driver safety, leading to the Tecoma St median closure and removal of right-turn facilities at the Coolibah St and Loweana St-Truda St intersections.

“The initial design was carefully developed to upgrade road and active travel facilities while preserving existing turning options. However, the new design has created safety concerns. These permanent changes will greatly improve safety for all users,” she said.

Southport city councillor Brooke Patterson (pictured right) updating residents on Cotlew Street roadworks at Ashmore.

“Construction of these improvements will begin soon. Please be prepared for additional traffic changes and detours during the construction period. Thank you for your patience and co-operation during this time.”

But residents did not hold back, saying few industries or businesses would escape “where a project is completely stuffed up and their seems to be zero accountability for the outcome”.

“How much are GCCC ratepayers out of pocket for this design error. How are the local residents being compensated for the planned permanent impacts on their daily lives and home asset value,” a resident wrote.

“Local residents have every right to be majorly pissed off — they should get a legal eagle to represent them all and really start asking questions and demanding answers, rather than just parroting a council response. Someone should be losing their job as a bare minimum. No where near good enough.”

Another resident was furious that motorists were being blamed for safety reasons.

“To be blaming driver behaviour for this poo fight they have caused is just appalling. This is a joke. We waited almost two years for them to finish it. The first job, it wasn’t done right, so instead of maybe fixing the gradient and the vision issues, all the right-hand turns are going to be now closed up.”

Picture of road works around the Wardoo St/Cotlew St intersection. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Asked if there would be a budget blowout, Ms Patterson assured the Bulletin that she had been told funding would not need to be increased.

“As long as it doesn’t rain between now and Christmas, traffic lights at the intersection between Wardoo and Cotlew streets will be done by Christmas,” she said.

Ms Patterson previously said the budget had increased by 30 per cent and was $26m.

Delays earlier this year were 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 St had been closed for two 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.

Picture of road works around the Wardoo St/Cotlew St intersection. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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Originally published as The Coast’s worst intersection faces more delays as council works on safety solution