The state government says it has almost finished priority planning to address one of the Sunshine Coast’s busiest intersections.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has proposed upgrades to the roundabout junction of Caloundra Road, Bells Creek Arterial Road and Kawana Way Link Road at Little Mountain.
A grade-separated interchange, involving overpasess, could be built there as a long-term solution, and traffic lights could be installed in the interim.
The intersection is currently the subject of a change.org petition by Beerwah resident Rhiannon Anderson, who is calling for traffic lights to be affixed, amid “urgent concern”.
“The roundabout has seen a significant number of accidents, highlighting the immediate need for action,” she said.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
“Traffic lights significantly reduces the risk of accidents. I believe this intervention needs to happen now, before we lose lives.”
She told Sunshine Coast News that issues at the intersection included “speed, traffic and angle”.
“No one gives way … people are using the roundabout like a free-for-all. It’s ridiculous,” she said.
There were 30 crashes, with 33 people sustaining injuries, there between 2019 and 2023.
The interchange upgrade was one of several transport initiatives touted by the state LNP during a pre-election blitz at Caloundra last year, before they were voted in.
The intersection is part of an evolving north-south transport corridor on the Sunshine Coast, which includes road upgrades, new roads and the proposed construction of a multibillion-dollar rail line.
A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said plans were well underway to address the junction.
“Priority planning to reduce congestion and improve safety for the intersection is nearing completion,” they said.
“The ultimate solution for this intersection would be a grade-separated interchange, ensuring this upgrade would meet future traffic demands expected for the growing Sunshine Coast.”
About 63,000 vehicles go through the roundabout every day but that figure is expected to balloon to about 82,000 by 2036, amid a population boom.
The spokesperson detailed how a new-look intersection could look.
“A grade-separated interchange would include new north-south bridges over Caloundra Road, connecting Kawana Way to Bells Creek Arterial Road, improving traffic flow on all routes,” they said.
“New slip lanes would also be built and improvements made to active transport facilities through the area.”
Traffic lights could be installed first.
“A shorter-term solution has been considered as part of the business case, which would see the intersection signalised,” the spokesperson said.
“This option would be compatible with the ultimate (grade-separated interchange), if built first.”
But it’s not clear how much the upgrades could cost, how they would be paid for and when they could be done.
“Costings and timeframes for the project will be finalised as part of the business case,” the spokesperson said.
The federal government has invested $2.26 million into planning, while the state government has committed $260,000.
The business case is being developed and technical investigations are being carried out after community consultation in 2021 and 2023 attracted more than 700 submissions.
The intersection concepts developed during planning (pictured above) were provided during community consultation early last year. Planning then proposed a two-staged approach to construction. However, investigations are now underway to progress the election commitment to construct an overpass over Caloundra Road, essentially bringing forward stage two.
