Intersection upgrades

Fraser Coast residents will have safer and smoother journeys as a result of improvements at three busy intersections in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

Cr Denis Chapman said Council had approved plans to improve traffic flow through the Denmans Camp Road and Torquay Road intersection; the Old Maryborough Road and Tooth Street intersection and the four-way intersection of Wilson, Premier, Tooley and Gaynor streets in Maryborough.

“The projects are all in our 10-year capital works plan. By approving the concept designs, we can move forward with public consultation, land acquisitions and start work on the detailed designs,” he said.

The Wilson, Premier and Tooley streets project is programmed for the current financial year.

The concept layouts include:

• Wilson Street: 90-degree configuration of the intersections of Premier and Wilson streets, 2021/22
• Old Maryborough Road and Tooth Street: single-lane roundabout, 2024/25;
• Denmans Camp Road and Torquay Road: one-way traffic flow from Torquay Road to Totness Street, 2025/26;

Under the plan, a section of Denmans Camp Road, from Torquay Road to Totness Street, will become one-way.

The change will eliminate right turns from Denmans Camp Road into Torquay Road, increase on-street parking at the Girl Guides Hall and improve pedestrian connectivity.

Vehicles wanting to access Torquay Road from Denmans Camp Road will be diverted through the Totness Street-Torquay Road intersection.

Meanwhile a one-lane roundabout will be built at the T-intersection of the Old Maryborough Road and Tooth Street to improve traffic flow.

“The intersection can become congested causing long queues of vehicles waiting to turn,” Cr Chapman said.

“Traffic congestion encourages drivers to take greater risks to enter the intersection and compromises the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using the intersection.”

At Wilson Street the work will realign the Premier Street and Tooley Street intersections to 90-degree intersections with Wilson Street.

The work will improve sight lines and slow turning traffic movements through the intersections.

Council will monitor the intersection following the completion of the works to gauge their effectiveness.