Divisive plan divides city: James St to get median strip

A PLAN to install a median strip along the eastern end of James St has sparked an early outcry.

The eastern end of James St could soon be getting a median strip. Picture: Bev Lacey

A PLAN to install a median strip along the eastern end of James St has sparked an early outcry.

A business owner along the busy road yesterday criticised the plan.

Flooring Xtra owner Wayne Ford branded the move "absolutely ludicrous" and said it would further hurt businesses already struggling in a tight economic climate.

"Business is bad enough without something like this," he said.

"A median strip is absolutely ludicrous."

Mr Ford said he had witnessed one minor traffic accident in the past 12 years he had had his shop along James St.

"We get more customers complaining they can't get out of here to turn left because there are so many trucks on the road," he said.

Deputy Mayor Mike Williams said the Transport and Main Roads Department had flagged the median strip as part of its planned upgrade to the road.

While he was unsure of the timeline, he said it was the "long-term intention" to build the median strip.

"The aim is that it will eventually be a divided road," he said.

"That is the long-term intention."

A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson yesterday confirmed one recommendation of the Toowoomba Arterial Road Link Study was to build a median strip on James St.

"The study provides a planning framework for the future development of the city and made some recommendations to be implemented in stages as necessary," the spokesperson said.

"One recommendation was the placement of median strips along sections of James St to restrict vehicle movements as required."

But they said there were "no immediate plans or funding allocated" for the median strip..

Originally published as Divisive plan divides city: James St to get median strip