Works to address growing pedestrian safety concerns have commenced on the Bundaberg Ring Road by the entrance of Belle Eden Estate, Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett announced today.
Mr Bennett said residents in the area had approached him to raise serious concerns about pedestrian safety across the Bundaberg Ring Road near Sienna Boulevard.
“Being a major road link designed to remove heavy traffic from central Bundaberg, it’s obviously a very busy road which is frequently used by heavy vehicles,” Mr Bennett said.
“With children crossing that road five days a week to walk to their local school, mums and dads regularly pushing prams to get to the shops, and residents crossing that road on a daily basis to get to and from work, coupled with an 80km/hr speed limit; it’s a recipe for disaster.
“Residents I have spoken with were quite concerned that it was only a matter of time before someone was killed trying to cross that road.”
Mr Bennett said in response to community concerns, the Department of Transport and Main Roads will construct a pedestrian refuge to provide a safe area for pedestrians to negotiate one direction of traffic at a time when crossing the road.
“The new refuge will cater for pedestrians with prams and mobility issues, and tactile ground surface indicators will be placed to assist the vision impaired,” he said.
Mr Bennett said footpaths were also being built to direct pedestrians to a formalised crossing point, and roadside lighting was being installed to illuminate the area and alert motorists in the evening.
“I applaud those residents who brought this matter to light and campaigned to ensure a safer path across the particularly busy road… It’s a great result for the community,” Mr Bennett said.
Belle Eden resident Craig Hodges said the issue had been of grave concern to many people in Belle Eden Estate and in Kepnock.
“There are parents fearful of their children running across the Ring Road or zig-zagging through heavy traffic just to get to school, and every time you hear a screech of brakes or a siren you just go cold in fear that someone hasn’t made it,” Mr Hodges said.
“The estate is home to so many young families and I think for some time so many residents have felt a little disconnected from the rest of Bundaberg. Until now, you were taking your life in your own hands to cross that stretch of Ring Road, with heavy vehicles travelling at 80km/hour.
“There have been some horrific accidents and near misses here because the speed limit is too high, the crossing area isn’t lit, there’s no refuge for pedestrians either side, and the deep ditch is difficult to traverse.
“This work happening now fixes some of those critical problems, and I know many residents who are feeling appreciative they’ve been heard, and very happy to see this work underway. It’s a big step in the right direction to help safeguard our kids, parents, friends and neighbours.”
ENDS.
March 1, 2016