Angus Smith Drive roundabout to undergo $30 million if LNP elected in October

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has announced a major Townsville intersection would receive a $30 million upgrade to ensure safety as the city grows, if elected next month.

LNP candidate for Thuringowa, Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli, candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole and candidate for Townsville Adam Baillie at the Angus Smith Drive roundabout.

Promising to ensure the ‘growth of a magnificent city’, Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli announced this week that a major Townsville roundabout would receive a $30 million upgrade if the party is elected next month.

Mr Crisafulli said the Angus Smith Drive roundabout in Douglas was at risk of ‘complete and utter gridlock by 2030’ if something was not done now.

“Upgrading this intersection will unlock congestion, it will also unlock potential for growth at the university and the hospital,” he said.

The $30 million in upgrades would see the installation of traffic lights and an updated traffic flow configuration.

Mr Crisafulli said without upgrades the area runs the risk of ambulances getting stuck in traffic.

“You run the very real risk that ambos won’t be able to get to a major university hospital,” he said.

“You run the risk that people won’t be able to get to the university if something isn’t done here.”

He said it nearly 100,000 people using the hospital each year, with well over 4000 staff, it was important to ‘future proof’ the area.

“This intersection is the next logical step in beating the growth challenges that come at the hospital and at the uni,” he said.

LNP candidate for Mundingburra Janelle Poole said she had been out doorknocking and was hearing concern from locals about the efficiency of the roundabout as Townsville’s population grows.

“Within five years, this intersection will be gridlocked,” she said.

“The people of Townsville want change. They want a government that will future proof Townsville.”

Member for Mundingburra Les Walker said in response that the traffic issues and the proposed upgrade ‘doesn’t resonate as a priority’.

“The priority at the hospital is a multi-deck car park, we’re committed to that,” he said.

“We are focused on the services of health and making sure that we have good infrastructure, the helicopter, staff, carparking, plus our patients. That has been the focus and a holistic traffic management plan. we will be making more announcements on what that looks like as public consultation comes to an end.”

“Traffic management is a major priority, but there’s more than one entry point to that hospital”

Originally published as Angus Smith Drive roundabout to undergo $30 million if LNP elected in October