INVESTIGATION AND DESIGN WORKS FUNDED 2023-24
I am proud to announce I have secured funding in the 2023-24 Budget to investigate and design improvements to the Wilston Road Corridor, from Newmarket Road to Raymont Road. Wilston Road has been a focus for some time, particularly as part of the Schrinner Council’s commitment to getting you home sooner and safer. Wilston Road is a complex, narrow, aged, and heavily used district access route, and residents have raised concerns about the volume and speed of traffic on their streets.
This project includes investigation and design works to inform improvements and corridor enhancement to moderate vehicle speeds and enhance safety. Works typically investigated under this program include minor intersection upgrades, side street splitters, new pedestrian refuge crossings, line marking and signage review.
Council will be launching a formal community consultation in January 2024 to seek feedback and suggestions. I encourage you to take the opportunity to share your feedback when invited to do so. I have been advised there will also be signage installed along the corridor when consultation takes place.
Upgrading our local transport network is part of my ongoing commitment to improving our suburbs and making Enoggera Ward an even better place to live.
There are both practical and jurisdictional limitations to this project:
OTHER WORK ASSOCIATED WITH WILSTON ROAD
Council have conducted traffic counts and installed signage where possible and are reviewing footpaths to find any available alternative routes. There is limited scope in some areas as the road and footpaths cannot be widened without property resumption. It is also complicated as the road intersects with the State Government owned open level crossing where Council has no jurisdiction.
NARROW FOOTPATHS
- Footpaths along Wilston Road are narrow, and there is no way to widen them without significant property resumptions
- Weekly waste collection and existing power poles also impact the existing footpaths; and
- Council is currently investigating options to make footpaths safer along the corridor, and this includes reviewing alternative routes where wider footpaths could be proposed to connect pedestrians to Wilston Road.
WILSTON ROAD AND NEWMARKET ROAD INTERSECTION
- Significant surveying and traffic counts were conducted in March 2023 to help Council assess and design improvements to the intersection; and
- Council is finalising a design to be released for consultation soon.
ISSUES AROUND STATE CONTROLLED TRAIN LINE
- The railway line and open level crossing are State Government owned assets where Council has no jurisdiction
- Council can make improvements to local roads around the crossing, but are unable to make any changes to the railway line
- Following reports of southbound vehicles on Wilston Road queuing over the open level crossing, Council conducted full traffic surveys, then implemented a right turn ban from Wilston Road to Murrell Street in July 2022 to address safety concerns; and
- I have written to the Minister for Transport requesting the State Government review the open level crossing.
ALDERSON STREET (NEWMARKET POOL SIDE)
- Council has commenced investigation to reduce speed limit on Alderson Street and Murrell Street to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists, work is ongoing.