Back to School - Back to chaos on Moggill Road

Monday, 06 October 2008 12:29

Today’s return to school for many students in the local area has seen a return to the chaos on Moggill Road with residents reporting they take up to three-quarters of an hour to get from Karana Downs or Bellbowrie to Kenmore.

Local residents know this happens every time and underscores yet again the urgency about making a decision and getting some action on local road infrastructure for Moggill Road.  It also highlights the desperate need for a large upgrade to public transport in the local area. 

Many school trips could be done by public transport if we had suitable public transport. Many residents often contact me frustrated with the Government’s years of neglect in not addressing what should be a basic right and that is the right to be able to get to and from work, school, university, hospitals, airports etc, in a reasonable manner.

I heard one caller on talkback radio last week say they have sold their home to leave the area because of this problem.

Read more: Back to School - Back to chaos on Moggill Road

Park and Ride delayed

Wednesday, 24 September 2008 14:24

In another public transport disappointment, the Government has announced that they no longer intend to construct the park and ride facility and traffic lights at the intersection of Margaret Court and Moggill Road as part of the current road works. 

Not only are they delaying desperately needed public transport infrastructure, they will now have to return to complete the works at some later stage, increasing costs and causing further disruption on this notorious stretch of Moggill Road.  

Given the length of time it has already taken to complete the Moggill Road upgrade project, I am very disappointed to see public transport infrastructure ignored once again.  The delay will simply lead to further disruption some months, or even years down the track for motorists who have already suffered for long enough with delays caused by the current road works.  

I have written to Main Roads urging them to reconsider their decision.  

I’m sure that local residents share my frustration that we get nothing but talk and no action to improve public transport and reduce traffic congestion in our local area.

Update: Moggill Road Upgrade fast-tracked

Monday, 15 September 2008 14:05

Following my representations to the Government last month, the Moggill Road upgrade has been fast-tracked.

Premier Anna Bligh wrote to me last week with the news that Main Roads has implemented a quicker construction method involving a new pavement design. Click Here to read Premier Bligh's letter.

Read more: Update: Moggill Road Upgrade fast-tracked

Traffic and Safety Review of three Key Local Intersections

Friday, 05 September 2008 12:34

In an investigation totally unrelated to the Kenmore Bypass study or the WBTNI the State Government has examined three of our worst intersections from both a traffic flow and safety point of view to see if any improvements could be made.

I want to make it clear this is the information presented to me.  It is not necessarily my view.

The findings are interesting however on a number of points I strongly disagree with the Government’s conclusion.

Moggill Road/Brookfield Road Intersection

The Kenmore roundabout was examined following a significant range of concerns and a number of local road options were considered.

The analysis looked at problems associated with two lanes merging into one at the beginning of Brookfield Road outbound and the issue of traffic getting onto the roundabout from Brookfield Road.

Two of the options considered were closing the entry to the shopping centre and replacing the roundabout with lights.

The Government concluded that these would not produce a sufficiently improved outcome and there were a range of particular problems mostly because the approaches to the intersections from both directions being too narrow to allow the required roadworks.

The operation of the lights on the roundabout that operate during morning peak hour were checked.

A sensor is in place on Brookfield Road that detects the length of the queue on Brookfield Road and triggers the operation of the lights only if needed!

The queuing on Brookfield Road is long enough to trigger the operation of the roundabout lights on 50% of the cycles for those lights.

Other options considered were turning the kerbside lane in Brookfield Road into a bus lane or reducing the Brookfield Road commencement to one lane only.

These were found to be unworkable because of queuing of the traffic from the pedestrian lights back on to the roundabout and because cars could legally use a bus lane within that close proximity to an intersection.

Kenmore Road and Moggill Road Intersection

Problems associated with this intersection are as all local residents know perennial.  In the analysis of the Kenmore Road/Moggill Road intersection options such as giving priority during the traffic light cycle to traffic turning into Kenmore Road by adding this as a separate phase to ensure that traffic didn’t bank back into the flow of traffic inbound along Moggill Road was considered.

Adding an extra phase to the lights it was considered it would reduce the volume capacity of the intersection.

Also considered in order to try to increase the capacity of the intersection was to widen the outbound lane on Moggill Road from one lane to two down the hill from OLR and/or close off the right hand turn into Kilkivan Avenue.

This was found to be a multi-million dollar project that presented significant difficulties because of reduced safety at the school crossing and because of technical and grade differences across the road corridor.

Merlin Terrace

Consideration is being given to making entry and exit to and from Merlin Terrace by left hand turn only.

This issue arose following a fatal accident last year to which the configuration was considered to be a contributing factor.

It is not clear whether or not the Government intend to proceed with this change however quite unbelievably it was indicated that the budget process for such an apparently minor change would still be expected to take eighteen months to two years!

Moggill Road/Grandview Road Intersection

The Government’s examination of this intersection is particularly disappointing to say the least.

It was found that to signalise the intersection to provide safe pedestrian crossing and right-hand turning would be too expensive!

There is currently no safe pedestrian crossing provided between Kenmore and Moggill. I believe this is completely unacceptable.
This is an issue I have pursued for sometime and intend to continue pursuing.

Government declined request for Grandview Road Park and Ride

As part of the evaluation of this intersection the Government also indicated they would not provide a safe Park and Ride in the area currently used informally by many local residents.

I fought hard to get approval for the area’s first Park and Ride at Kenmore.

It seems the Government will force motorists to drive to Kenmore if they want to Park and Ride.
In my view if we are serious about getting people onto public transport we need to provide a series of Park and Rides across our large local geographical area.

Further Studies of interest to Local Residents

Apparently the Government has conducted a full safety audit of Moggill Road through the local area but it will be left to my Freedom of Information application to seek to obtain a copy for local residents.

An investigation was also conducted into the contributing factors to last year’s fatal accident at the intersection of Merlin Terrace and I will be submitting a Freedom of Information request for this study as well