Safety upgrades not built because of 'concerns over safety'

THE decision not to build a dedicated cycleway or pedestrian path as part of the $10 million Griffiths St upgrade was “out of safety concerns"

FILE PHOTO

>>RELATED: Council works force traffic changes on busy street

THE decision not to build a dedicated cycleway or pedestrian path as part of the $10 million Griffiths St upgrade was "out of safety concerns for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians", according to Toowoomba Regional Council Deputy Mayor Carol Taylor.

The council is currently undertaking an upgrade of Griffiths St in preparation for the opening of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing next year.

Despite a council-commissioned Griffiths St planning study from 2017 that noted "a distinct lack of facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, other than through use of the road pavement", and which identified the building of pedestrian or cycle facilities as a "high" priority, TRC and the Department of Transport and Main Roads decided not to include the facilities as part of the upgrade.

The Griffiths St planning study defined "high" level risks as "any safety issues that are considered to be of sufficient hazard to warrant immediate attention for redesign, reconstruction, removal, protection or warning".

Council policy also states that "all new or upgraded roads need to provide for safe walking and cycling".

In a statement to The Chronicle, Cr Taylor said "the width of the Gowrie Creek Bridge on Griffiths St is inadequate to satisfy relevant width standards required for simultaneous vehicle, cycle and pedestrian traffic".

Writing in November to a ratepayer, Cr Taylor also said "the allocation of funding for this project from DTMR did not include a provision for a dedicated cycleway and pedestrian path along Griffiths St".

Cr Taylor yesterday said in a statement "the installation of a pedestrian path will be considered in the future when the time comes to upgrade Gowrie Creek Bridge and all safety aspects are able to be addressed appropriately for all users.

"Council does not encourage members of the public to use unformed or undesignated footpaths or place themselves in a dangerous situation," she said.

"As part of the pedestrian path network, DTMR has secured funding for a shared cycleway from Highfields to Toowoomba which was announced in the Queensland State Budget earlier this year.

"In the longer term, with further development of the area a four lane road is planned for Griffiths Street which would consider cyclists and pedestrian access across Gowrie Creek."

Originally published as Safety upgrades not built because of 'concerns over safety'