25 January 2023
Road safety in Warwick has received a $1.33m funding boost for important upgrades to pedestrian crossings at CBD roundabouts through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program.
Administered by the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, the additional funds were secured following a Council submission prompted by community safety concerns to standardise busy crossings and provide a consistent approach to the CBD road environment.
Road safety advocate Councillor Andrew Gale welcomed the significant investment and said the increased safety at intersections would provide better protection for road users frequenting the city centre.
“The Warwick CBD has seen the positive impacts of regional growth with increasing numbers of pedestrians and vehicles interacting in the region’s major business hub and this activity does increase the potential risk of collisions,” Councillor Gale said.
“By identifying known sites of concern and fixing these with the Australian Government’s support, we hope to eliminate incidents and reduce the impact of collisions on road users and the overall community.
“The Warwick CBD is an identified high risk area and the approved upgrades will go a long way towards increasing road safety.
“I recognise that the CBD crossings have been an ongoing concern for the community and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their patience while we have worked through the issues to find a practical solution.
“I’d also to thank the Warwick Road Safety Committee for ensuring these upgrades remained on the table until addressed.
“I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Council in lobbying the Department to secure these necessary funds for this critical road safety project.
“Council’s works program for maintaining and improving our region’s roads is a comprehensive body of works with many moving parts and the Black Spot Program makes it possible to deliver beneficial works without expense to the ratepayer.”
The following pedestrian crossings at roundabouts will be upgraded to raised priority crossings:
• Palmerin Street/Fitzroy Street
• Palmerin Street/Percy Street
• Guy Street/Fitzroy Street
• Guy Street/Grafton Street
• Guy Street/Percy Street
The mid-block crossings at Palmerin Street, King Street and Grafton Street will also be standardised to bring a consistent approach within the Warwick CBD.
Council will continue to progress the detailed design of these crossings. With the assurance of funding, Council officers are prioritising the delivery of these projects and delivery dates will be confirmed in due course.
The upgrade of the Palmerin Street and Guy Street pedestrian crossings is proudly funded by the Australian Government.
Previous Black Spot projects have included safety works such as improving sight distances, improving curves and removing road side hazards.
Last edited date 25 Jan 2023