Murray road network upgrade in full swing
Date published: 20 April 2017
Work is underway on the next stage of a $4.3 million jointly funded project to improve traffic flows on one of Townsville’s busiest suburban roads.
The project is delivering a major upgrade of Williams Angliss Drive and the Mervyn Crossman Drive roundabout, the main feeder route to the Murray Sporting Complex, local schools and adjoining suburb of Annandale.
Works include widening a section of William Angliss Drive to four lanes, and installing traffic lights, a pedestrian crossing and raising the road height on the roundabout to mitigate against flooding.
Infrastructure Committee chairman Cr Mark Molachino said the route was an important traffic link in the road network.
“This next stage of the upgrade will greatly improve road conditions on one of the busiest thoroughfares in our local road network,” Cr Molachino said.
“There are around 17,500 vehicle movements between Stuart Drive and Mervyn Crossman Drive every day.
“The council is completing this next phase of the upgrade thanks to the funding we have received through the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery program.”
Already Stage 1 has seen improvements to underground drainage as well as an upgraded road pavement and asphalting to William Angliss Drive.
Stage 2 will involve a complete rebuild of Mervyn Crossman Drive.
Divisional councillor Verena Coombe said the upgrade would improve traffic flows as well as safety for local schools and sporting clubs.
“This is a great project that will have benefits for not only local schools and the sporting clubs, but for the thousands of other residents who use the road each day,” Cr Coombe said.
“The project team has liaised with local schools and sporting clubs to develop a traffic management plan that will minimise impacts as much as possible during the work.”
Southern Cross Catholic College Principal Louise Vella-Cox said the project would address the safety concerns voiced by the school community.
“It has been great working with the council to address our concerns and ensure the safety of our kids is paramount,” Ms Vella-Cox said.
A detour will be in place to divert traffic around the work via Murray Lyons Cres until the project is finished in June, but local access will be maintained.
Information has also been delivered to surrounding suburbs, advising residents of the work and traffic detours.
Visit council’s website for more information.
