‘CHEAPEST OPTION’ COUNCIL PUSHES BACK ON BRUCE HIGHWAY SPEED CUT

TMR data identified multiple casualty crashes at the Bruce Highway/Giddy Road intersection, with Council arguing permanent infrastructure upgrades are needed instead of a speed reduction alone. Photo: Jacob Casha.‍A proposal to reduce the speed limit near the Bruce Highway/Giddy Road intersection has triggered a row between Burdekin Shire Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, with a council report calling the measure “the cheapest option available”and an inadequate solution to one of the region’s most persistent road safety concerns.‍PROBLEM BURDEKIN INTERSECTION UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Burdekin Shire Council has pushed back against the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) recommendation to decrease the speed limit along a stretch of the Bruce Highway. The recommendation, a response to mounting safety concerns surrounding the Bruce Highway/Giddy Road intersection, proposed a speed limit reduction from 100km/h to 90km/h along a 3km stretch spanning north of the Ayr Dalbeg Road intersection to south of Conlan Street, Ayr. It follows a TMR speed limit review prompted by a serious injury crash and subsequent road safety audit. The review examined crash data and driver behaviour at the location between February 2021 and February 2026, finding multiple casualty crashes and severe intersection collisions involving vehicles entering from adjacent approaches. Video monitoring and a crash that occurred while the audit team was on-site led TMR to recommend the 10km/h speed reduction, ultimately reversing its own desktop review conducted last year that found the existing 100km/h speed limit was appropriate. A report authorised by Council Director of Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Services, James Stewart, has slammed TMR’s proposal, arguing it “serves as a legal liability defence” and “fails to address the underlying deficiencies causing conflict at the intersection.” Council’s report argued the review’s own assessments supported keeping the existing 100km/h limit, with the lower speed recommendation instead relying on an engineering variation aimed at addressing driver behaviour concerns. It identified the intersection’s design as a catalyst for safety concerns, citing nearby overtaking lanes that cause differing entry speeds, visibility issues caused by cane rail flashing signage, and the lack of dedicated acceleration lanes for traffic entering the highway. The report concluded that a permanent infrastructure upgrade, such as the construction of dedicated acceleration and merge lanes at the intersection, would better serve as a long-term solution to underlying safety concerns. Its recommendation to request that TMR prioritise funding for detailed design and construction of the Giddy Road intersection upgrade was unanimously carried by councillors during an ordinary meeting last month. Burdekin Shire Council Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Road Safety Committee, Max Musumeci, said Council had long made its objection clear to TMR. “Council has communicated its concerns … to TMR on multiple occasions and in strong terms,” said Mr Musumeci. “Council's position has consistently been that long-term safety improvements are more likely to be achieved through infrastructure investment rather than relying solely on reduced speed limits.” Despite consistently raising concerns with TMR at both officer and elected representative levels, Mr Musumeci said that, to date, the State Government “has not indicated that any significant upgrade works are planned for the intersection.” “Council's concern is if the underlying issues remain unchanged, the location may continue to result in near misses and collisions,” he said. “For this reason, Council continues to advocate for further investigation of infrastructure-based improvements that address the intersection's long-term safety performance … [and] remains hopeful that its ongoing advocacy … will ultimately be recognised and acted upon.” Mr Musumeci said any major upgrade would generally be funded through an 80/20 arrangement between the Queensland and Commonwealth governments. The Department of Transport and Main Roads was contacted for comment, but was unable to provide a response before deadline. CAPTION: Council’s report identified the intersection’s design as a catalyst for its safety concerns, citing nearby overtaking lanes that cause differing entry speeds, visibility issues caused by cane rail flashing signage, and the lack of dedicated acceleration lanes for traffic entering the highway. Photo credit: Jacob Casha. ‍