Improvements are on the way to a congested and accident-prone beachside intersection but locals hope more will be done.
The state government has revealed to Sunshine Coast News that $1.51 million has been allocated, through the Targeted Road Safety Program, to enhance the David Low Way and Mudjimba Esplanade intersection at Marcoola.
State MP Fiona Simpson said it was a step in the right direction while Mudjimba Residents Association aviation officer Martin Peelgrane said more action was required.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesperson detailed the plans and how they would benefit motorists.
“The works will involve a dedicated right-turn lane treatment from northbound David Low Way onto Mudjimba Esplanade,” they said.
“This will improve safety for road users at the T-intersection when vehicles are stopped to turn right into Mudjimba Esplanade.
“There will also be modifications to pavement marking to move the give-way line forward for vehicles on Mudjimba Esplanade entering onto David Low Way.”
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The upgrade works are in the design phase and are expected to occur next financial year.
The area has, in recent years, received increasing traffic. There were more than 17,230 vehicles on David Low Way to the south of the intersection, at 2.8 per cent five-year growth, while there were 13,762 vehicles to the north of the intersection, at a steady rate.
Ms Simpson said the funding was “a win”.
“We’ve been waiting for confirmation after I received a promise in February the works were being progressed but until it was scheduled, we had to keep fighting,” she said.
“After an onsite meeting and ongoing advocacy to the government about upgrading this intersection, I was advised in February this year that the funding submission had progressed, and an outcome was expected in the next couple of months, which I’m pleased has now been confirmed.
“After getting the protected pedestrian crossing installed just to the south, the fight has continued to get the intersection upgraded as there have been increasing accidents at this location and growing traffic pressures.”
Ms Simpson said the junction was perilous.
“It is currently very dangerous for northbound traffic, rounding the bend on David Low Way at Marcoola, and finding stationary traffic ahead of them waiting to turn into Mudjimba Esplanade, with nowhere to go but to the gutter to avoid a collision,” she said.
“The volume of traffic on the David Low Way has increased, making it harder to safely enter and exit Mudjimba Esplanade, with reports of collisions and near misses.”
She said the upgrade should help but she would continue to push for traffic lights to be installed.
“The combined slip lane and dedicated right-turning lane is a step in the right direction and was one of the options we discussed, but I have asked the department to ensure that design allows for it to be signalised in the future.
“The announced works will make it safer and obviously we will assess how effective they are in reducing the traffic accidents at this location, which is the most important issue.”
Meanwhile, Mr Peelgrane said the planned upgrades were not enough.
“The introduction of a right-turn slot in David Low Way will do little for those trying to enter the David Low Way traffic stream from the esplanade,” he said.
“Only traffic lights or a roundabout will help traffic from the esplanade enter David Low Way safely.
“At $1.5 million, this is a very expensive right-turn slot and a complete waste of money.
“It does nothing to solve the problem of safe egress from Mudjimba Esplanade.
“There is room for a roundabout, which would help solve the problem and reduce the speed environment on David Low Way.
“Traffic lights would be even better as it would guarantee egress against traffic from the north.”
Mr Peelgrane had earlier told Sunshine Coast News that locals were alarmed by the junction.
“The residents of Mudjimba have been concerned about this intersection for some time as they experience significant delays when waiting to turn left, or right, into David Low Way from Mudjimba Esplanade, especially during peak hours,” he said.
“The traffic stream on David Low Way at peak times has limited gaps between vehicles, which makes it very difficult for vehicles to turn safely into the main road.
“The 620 bus service to Noosa is also required to make this right turn into David Low Way, aggravating the safety of that movement and the queue of vehicles waiting to enter from Mudjimba Esplanade.”
He said the Mudjimba Residents Association had written to TMR with its concerns.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
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