Bruce Hwy Bentley Park intersection needs priority upgrade after deaths: Matt Tickner
A Cairns councillor is demanding the state government review its proposed upgrades of the Bruce Hwy following two deaths in two weeks at the same intersection.
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A Cairns councillor is demanding the state government review its proposed upgrades of the Bruce Hwy following two deaths in two weeks at the same intersection.
The Cairns Bruce Highway upgrade master plan most recently delivered Stage 3 – the Gordonvale to Edmonton section upgrade, with planning for Stage 5 – the upgrade of the Foster Rd intersection at Mount Sheridan – in the works and next on the list.
Stage 4 – Kate to Aumuller St, was completed prior to Stage 3 in 2021.
Further down the list at Stage 9 is a proposal to revamp the intersection at Bentley Park, where Robert Rd and Swallow Rd meet the Bruce Hwy.
But Division 2 councillor Matt Tickner wants this section brought ahead of the Mount Sheridan upgrade.
While both intersections fall under his division, he said the priority should be upgrades at Bentley Park following the death of an 18-year-old Daimon Pyne, who was a passenger in a ute that collided with a train, and the death of a 74-year-old White Rock man a week later, who collided with a motorbike while crossing the highway.
The Stage 9 proposal would close off direct highway access for Robert and Swallow Rd, as well as Mill Rd at Edmonton, to create one combined intersection with an overpass.
“Obviously the Edmonton to Gordonvale has been a really good asset, but they need to buckle down now and get these connections on to the highway,” Mr Tickner said.
“A highway is only as good as your ability to get on to it.
“Typically a clear indicator when looking at road upgrades – has there been death, or has there been significant injury, and that pushes priority.
“In my opinion and the community’s opinion from the people I’m consistently speaking to is – the priority isn’t the Foster Rd intersection, it’s further down in Bentley Park itself. Roberts Rd and Swallow Rd.”
The Department of Transport and Main Roads site showed the Mount Sheridan Foster Rd upgrade planning was due mid-2025, and had a funding allocation of $225m, however in December 2023 a revised cost (not yet committed to) of $550m was published.
Mr Tickner said shifting the funding allocation and planning priority to Bentley Park would also alleviate intra-suburb congestion, as the growth of the south was causing suburban streets to become makeshift arterial roads.
Mulgrave MP Terry James was asked if his government would have the will to overturn TMR’s planning works for Mount Sheridan to instead focus on Bentley Park.
“Of course there is, it’s a new government, we’ve got new priorities,” he said in support of Mr Tickner’s proposal.
“You go there now, there’s a car upside down right on the intersection. There’s something drastically wrong with the way it is.”
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Originally published as Bruce Hwy Bentley Park intersection needs priority upgrade after deaths: Matt Tickner
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