New intersection consultation starts
Upgrade still a year away

UPGRADING of the dangerous Kiel Mountain/Montville Road crossroads with the Nambour Connection Road is now scheduled for completion by the end of next year, despite more than three years of promises.

The $5 million interchange project was to have been completed by December this year.

Main Roads Department District Director Gary Fisher said delays had been incurred due to consultation with property owners affected by the resumption of land.

"Approximately four properties have had to be resumed in whole plus we have had to negotiate further resumptions of part properties," he said.

"This has involved discussions and consultations with local businesses, residents, the Christian Outreach College and Woombye State School."

Cr Geoff Littler said community consultation should have happened six months ago to bring the public up to date with proposed plans.

"I think the delay on this project has been excessive. I believe that the Main Roads Department should make every effort possible to compensate for the delay and expedite the work as quickly as possible," he said.

"Due to these delays I am constantly bombarded with calls from the public suggesting that there should be traffic lights installed. But the problem with this is that it is only a quick fix solution whereas the solution presented by Main Roads is long term."

Concerned motorists, suffering long delays particularly during peak school and work hours and fearing an accident involving school buses, have been calling for traffic lights for three years in an effort to resolve the situation.

However Mr Fisher said that traffic lights wouldn’t prevent accidents at the crossroads.

"Even with traffic signals on crossroads as busy as the Kiel Mountain, Montville Roads there will still be accidents," he said. "When we consulted with council they were keen for the roads to remain rural rather urban road with traffic signals at every intersection."

Consultants were engaged in March 1996 to prepare plans for the overpass with a view to work being completed by December 1998.

Tonia Walker, of Consultation and Liaison Services which is now carrying out further consultation, said that while the previous consultant’s report pleased everyone because only limited land was to be resumed, it had been found to be faulty.

"School buses and trucks could not use the proposed overpass system so it was back to the drawing board," she said. "The department was to have purchased two properties, but then big changes had to be made to the layout and there are now six landowners who are significantly affected."

Her colleague, Terry Paxton said the whole idea of the interchange was to keep traffic moving on the higher roads.

"With the installation of lights the traffic would be continually stopping," he said. "I agree that this has been excessively delayed and that it’s got to the stage the procrastination needs to stop. Just do it."

Mr Fisher said plans would be approved within a month and tenders would be called in October.

The interchange will take 12 months to construct, for scheduled completion by December 1999.

An information session to discuss the plans for the interchange is to held at the Palmwoods Memorial Hall on Wednesday August 12, from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Plans for the interchange are now on display for public comment until August 14, at the Phillup Service Station, Woombye, Palmwoods Post Office and the Woombye Butchery.

An inquiry service has been established for the duration of the project on the toll free number 1800 801 964.

All submissions and comments should be forwarded to the Kiel Mountain Road Interchange Inquiry Service by August 14.

Work a long time coming...

THE cry for improvements to be carried out at the busy Nambour Connection Road crossroads is becoming a saga in its own right, as these headlines from the files of the Palmwoods District News confirm:

APRIL 1995: The Department of Transport rules out traffic lights for three months, possibly a year, despite earlier indications they would be installed.

JULY 1995: The Palmwoods Progress Association (PPA) mounts a "Red Cross" campaign to pressure the Department of Transport for urgent improvement to the crossroads. Peak hour traffic delays and accidents continue.

SEPTEMBER 1995: Intersection protests are stepped up. A call by the PPA for residents concerned about delays and accidents, to attend meeting in a bid to step up protests is answered.

NOVEMBER 1995: "NO SHOW - Intersection fails to win Govt priority." The Department of Transport rejects a call to bring forward any plans to improve crossroads, saying it may not even proceed in 1997/1998.

MARCH 1996: Consultants are engaged to undertake concept planning for upgrading of crossroads, but it will be part of larger project extending to McKenzie Road.

APRIL 1996: Community has voice on highway plans as it is promised that a list of options for the upgrade to be on public display and debate within six weeks.

FEBRUARY 1997: "Intersection battle won" was the optimistic cry as it was promised that there would be a ‘Rolls Royce’ upgrade in the form of a $5million multi-level interchange.

JUNE 1997: "Upgrade due end of 1998". A new promise is given that work on the overpass will start within six months for completion by the end of 1998.