The design is settled, the traffic lights are mapped out and motorists can now see exactly how one of Wavell Heights’ busiest intersections is set to change. What they still don’t know is when the work will begin.
Brisbane City Council has detailed its planned overhaul of the Hamilton Road and Spence Road intersection, including traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, extra road capacity and a permanent change to access from nearby Frankit Street.
But the project remains listed as “pending funding”, with construction timing yet to be announced.
For locals who regularly negotiate the intersection, the upgrade would bring a substantial change to a junction Council says is affected by heavy traffic, long waits and limited visibility.
Four Crashes Put Safety in Focus
The case for the upgrade is not based on congestion alone.
Council records cited in the project information show four crashes at the intersection between 2019 and 2024. Two resulted in people being hospitalised and another two required medical treatment.
At present, drivers entering Hamilton Road from Spence Road must judge gaps in traffic. The proposed signals would instead control movements through the intersection.
Pedestrians would also gain two signalised crossings, one across Hamilton Road and another across Spence Road.
More Than a Set of Traffic Lights
The plans reveal a broader redesign of the intersection.
The right-turn lane from Hamilton Road into Spence Road would be extended, while widening around the intersection would formalise two westbound lanes on Hamilton Road approaching and passing through the junction.
Footpaths and kerb ramps would be upgraded, while the project also includes new pavement, signage, line marking, landscaping and stormwater works.
The project map released in March shows the scale of the proposed changes, with new road surfaces and pedestrian infrastructure extending beyond the immediate signalised junction.
Public transport users will notice changes too. Westbound bus stop 43 on Hamilton Road is expected to move about 30 metres west, while northbound stop 42 on Spence Road would shift about 30 metres south.
Frankit Street Drivers Face a Permanent Change
For some residents, the biggest day-to-day impact may be one street away from the main intersection.
Frankit Street’s access to Hamilton Road will become permanently left-in, left-out only.
That means motorists will no longer have the full range of turning movements currently available at the intersection and some journeys will require a different route.
Council says the change is intended to improve safety. A new pedestrian refuge is also planned at Frankit Street.
The project map shows the redesigned Frankit Street entrance immediately west of the Hamilton Road–Spence Road intersection.
The Plan Is Clear. The Timeline Isn’t.
When the project was formally outlined in March, Council said it was finalising its construction program and expected to reveal more about the start of works later in 2026.
For now, that remains the missing piece.
The current Council project page lists the Hamilton Road–Spence Road upgrade as “in progress”, but gives its timeframe as “pending funding”.
Until funding and construction timing are confirmed, Wavell Heights residents have a detailed picture of how this busy intersection will eventually change — but no firm date for when those changes will reach the road.
Published 12-Aug-2026
