Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey has welcomed the RACQ joining his call for Bundaberg Region roads to be upgraded.
The state’s peak motoring body has called for urgent road safety upgrades after revealing that 26 people have been killed and 189 hospitalised in crashes over five years in the region.
“The crash data in the Bundaberg Region is appalling,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“Any accident is one accident too many and any fatality is a tragedy that impacts on hundreds of other people.
“Goodwood Road is one that’s been seriously neglected by the State Government.”
Mayor Dempsey said TMR data revealed the traffic volume on Goodwood Road has grown by 28 per cent over the past 10 years while Isis Highway has grown by 16 per cent.
“This demonstrates the emerging strategic importance of Goodwood Road and the need for improved funding,” he said.
“Goodwood Road is an important link between Bundaberg and Childers and the Bruce Highway to the south.
“Council has identified a number of critical projects such as bridge or culvert widening at the Elliott River and Turpin Creek, and upgrades at Rushy Creek and Yellow Waterholes Creek.”
The RACQ report that looks at Gin Gin Road, Bundaberg Miriam Vale Road, Goodwood Road, and Isis Highway between Bundaberg and Childers.
RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said a safety evaluation by the Club, through the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), revealed a shocking 40 percent of the roads received either a one or two star rating.
“This region was chosen because of the number of fatal and serious crashes in recent years, and quite frankly, the report card isn’t good,” she said.
“These roads are known for serious head-on crashes, that all too often result in fatalities. The risk of injury to drivers running off the road is also high.”
Dr Michael said the modelling showed a road safety investment in the order of $67-$80 million could prevent more than 170 fatal and serious injuries over 20 years.
“We believe improvements should focus on widening the centre line and providing median barriers to provide separation between oncoming vehicles, as well as clearing the sides of the road or installing safety barriers to reduce the injuries when drivers run off the road,” she said.
“Line marking, skid resistance improvements and investigating upgrades at about 70 intersections should also be a priority for the State Government.
“These low-cost high-benefit treatments would eliminate all one and two-star sections, which would greatly improve the safety of these roads, saving lives and injuries.”
I travel that road regularly. If you regard the warning signs it is easy, low risk.
Are we spending money to cover the idiots who may not adhere to the speed limits or are thinking that they are long haul drivers as the are on holidays??
You can’t spend our money to cope for stupid!
Save your pennies as fatalities are a usually a way to protect the gene pool.
So sorry for casualties that are a result of normal things.
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