Drivers have named a Sunshine Coast road as one of the five most clogged in Queensland.
RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said results were in for the club’s latest Red Spot Congestion Survey, which revealed the roads and motorways causing Queensland drivers the most frustration.
“Caloundra Road was the fourth most congested road in Queensland, according to our members,” Dr Kane said.
“The majority of motorists told us they experienced long delays, particularly at the Nicklin Way and Pelican Waters Boulevard roundabout and the Kawana Way Link Road and Bells Creek Arterial Road roundabout.”
He said other complaints about the road included congestion around turning lanes and poor linking of traffic lights.
“The good news is, there is planning underway to improve safety and reduce congestion on these roundabouts,” he said.
“The upcoming opening of the Bells Creek Arterial Road connection to the Bruce Highway in the south would also be expected to alleviate congestion on Caloundra Road.”
The Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade project also aims to reduce delays and congestions at the Caloundra Road and Nicklin Way roundabout.
The project is being jointly delivered by the Sunshine Coast Council, the Australian Government and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
It is expected to be completed in late 2025, weather and site conditions permitting.
“We hope the results from RACQ’s Red Spot Congestion Survey will keep these projects high on the priority list for governments,” Dr Kane said.
The survey revealed four of the top five congested roads were orbital motorways around South-East Queensland: the Pacific Motorway, Bruce Highway, Centenary Motorway and Gateway Motorway.
Mr Kane said addressing congestion would require governments to act decisively to improve and complete Brisbane’s transport network.
“Our members want our existing motorways and public transport corridors to be fixed, finished and extended, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Dr Kane said.
“Across our orbital motorway network, including the Logan Motorway, there are bottlenecks that need fixing. There are projects already underway that need finishing and there are sections that need extending to fill in missing links.
“When you look at our already congested orbital motorway network, the potential for traffic overload being pushed onto the Inner City Bypass and Pacific Motorway, and congestion on South Pine Road, Enoggera Road and Gympie Road, there’s clearly a missing western bypass link, which would complete a full outer-orbital road network surrounding Brisbane City.
“We’re going to have 4.5 million people living in the south-east in the next decade and we need to be planning for the city we want it to be.
“We need to think much more strategically about long-term growth and transport needs. A lack of good planning decades ago is making things difficult now.”
The club’s Red Spot Congestion Survey is run biennially. For the full report click here.
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