Four intersections in Brisbane, including one in Wavell Heights, have been earmarked for improvement to reduce the number of incidents in the area.
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Upgrades have been confirmed for the Hamilton Road and Bilsen Road in Wavell Heights, which is considered as one of the accident-prone intersections in the suburb.
Between 2015 and 2021 there were nine reported crashes at the Hamilton Rd and Bilsen Rd intersection, all of which resulted in medical treatment or hospitalisation.
Works, which are set to commence in late 2022, involves the creation of new red arrows to control movements through the intersection, and upgrading crossings to better protect pedestrians.
Authorities will also update the signal phasing, signage and line marking to suit new signals, and relocate bus stops to the departure side of the intersection.
The Australian Government has committed $1.1 million for the project, under the Black Spot program.
Other Brisbane roads set to benefit from the program this year include:
- Adelaide Street and Creek Street, Brisbane City
- Rosemary Street and Biota Street, Inala
- Forest Lake Boulevard and Rudyard Street, Forest Lake
The Black Spot program is a road safety program run by the Australian Government to fix dangerous roads by treating road locations where a large number of motor vehicle accidents have occurred.
Black Spot sites are those with a proven history of crashes. An intersection will be eligible for upgrades if it has recorded at least three casualty crashes over a five-year period.
Since 2010, Brisbane City Council has completed improvements in over 50 locations across the city.
One of the city’s successful upgrades is the one at Fison Ave and Southern Cross Way off-ramp in Eagle Farm back in 2015. Prior to the upgrades, it recorded 34 recorded crashes for five years but not one has occurred since the upgrade.
In Holland Park, there’s only one recorded incident to date, from 24 crashes at the Gaza Rd and Messines Ridge Rd prior to the works done in 2016.
Meanwhile, upgrades at the Wavell Heights intersection are expected to be complete by May 2023, weather and site conditions permitting.