The development of a new bikeway in Woolloongabba will aim to provide safer corridor for cyclists, and improve comfort and convenience for both pedestrians and drivers. Set to begin construction in June, the Woolloongabba bikeway project will extend 1.1 kilometres along Stanley Street between Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba and Dock Street, South Brisbane, and 1.4 kilometres along Annerley Road between Stanley Street, Woolloongabba and Gladstone Road, Dutton Park.
Councillor for the Gabba Ward, Johnathan Sri, says the project will provide long-overdue improvements to the region. “I’m very excited to see it finally going ahead,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of accidents, including two cyclist deaths along this corridor in recent years, so it was important to address these serious safety concerns.”
Features of the project design include a separated bikeway along Stanley Street, from Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, to Dock Street, South Brisbane; on road bike lanes on both sides of Annerley Road, from Clarence Street to the intersection of Gladstone Road, Dutton Park; and modification of a number of intersections on both Annerley Road and Stanley Street to enhance travel flow efficiency and safety. Some bus stops will also be reconfigured to reduce conflicts between cyclists and buses, including the installation of three floating bus stops. Common in many other cities, these will aim to reduce the risks associated with bikes and buses cutting across each other’s paths.
Councillor Sri says that the project will also facilitate increased use of cleaner and greener transport methods, which will also help Brisbane avoid problems faced by an overreliance on cars. “If we are to avoid the traffic congestion and parking shortage problems, we urgently need to encourage more people to choose walking, cycling and public transport ahead of driving. Safety concerns are consistently cited by residents as the highest barrier to riding for transport. Hopefully this project will lead to more people leaving the car at home and choosing a healthier, more sustainable mode of transport.” Construction is due to begin in June 2018 and should be completed by early 2019.
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