Community kickback has escalated over the closure of a key stretch of road for a bridge upgrade, as local authorities review the situation.
Many residents and business owners have criticised Noosa Council’s decision to shut the inbound lane to Tewantin on Doonella Bridge.
Noosa Council Infrastructure services director Shaun Walsh said, last month, that the change was necessary to conduct works, and it could take six months.
He said traffic modelling showed a one-way flow of traffic eastbound over the bridge, with a westbound detour, would create far less congestion and delays than having all traffic share one lane of the bridge in a stop-go arrangement.
But locals took to social media on Wednesday to blast the move, with some commuters claiming a diversion along Beckmans Road took them about an hour.
Criticism has since ramped up, with hundreds more comments posted on community boards. Two councillors revealed, on Wednesday night, that the closure was not their preferred option while renowned local businessman and celebrity chef Matt Sinclair vented his frustration.
Mayor Frank Wilkie also took to social media on Thursday afternoon and acknowledged “understandably angry” Tewantin business owners.
He said options to reverse traffic flow from east to west and instigate a two-way signal system were “being seriously reconsidered” by the council but an immediate decision was unlikely.
“It was said that, to minimise community confusion and traffic data to be collected, the new arrangement needed to remain for a week until schools return and impacts are understood,” he said.
“All traffic options regarding this critical link bridge create congestion and inconvenience on Noosa’s small road network. Which one is the safest, fairest, inconveniences the least number of people and causes least damage to our small businesses are the critical questions. Thank you everyone for your patience. There are absolutely no easy options here.”
Councillor Jessica Phillips said the bridge works, which started on Tuesday, were necessary but she did not support the one-way traffic arrangement and she pushed for changes to be made as soon as possible.
“The past 24 hours have shown our road network simply isn’t resilient enough,” she said on Wednesday night. “Beckmans Road has become the only alternative route and, when there is an accident, the network fails.”
“With schools returning next week, I believe waiting to make changes will only increase the impact on families, businesses, and safety.
“I support moving to a contraflow traffic signal (dual-direction single-lane) arrangement before schools return. It won’t eliminate delays or congestion that is inevitable during major infrastructure works but I believe it is a safer, more practical and balanced solution.”
Cr Amelia Lorentsen confirmed the council was reviewing the lane closure and changes could be made, but not immediately.
“I have been advised by the mayor and CEO that the current one-way eastbound traffic arrangement will remain in place for a further week,” she said.
“While this isn’t the option I wanted or what I pushed for, the reasons given for keeping the current arrangement are to avoid adding more confusion for the community, see what happens when school traffic returns next week, and give the team time to properly model the alternative options including two‑way and westbound flows.
“The concerns being raised by residents and businesses are being heard and will form part of the ongoing assessment. Further traffic modelling, business impact analysis and network monitoring will be undertaken over the coming week to help inform any future decisions.”
Cr Lorentsen later said: “I do not support maintaining the status quo. I have made clear my opposition to keeping the one-way eastbound arrangement in place until further modelling is undertaken.”
She also said a special meeting would be held by council early next week to resolve the matter, and that the CEO would also investigate other options, including night works and opening the pedestrian crossing to allow certain weight vehicles to pass.
Matt Sinclair, from Tewantin restaurant Peli’s Noosa, took to social media to say that dozens of “very passionate” and “very frustrated” business owners attended a council meeting the day after the project started.
“There were a lot of tears, aggression and a lot of frustration. People were genuinely scared and concerned for their livelihood: businesses they’ve built,” the MasterChef Australia runner-up from 2016 said.
Mr Sinclair said he was first notified about the project on June 24, and he appealed for traffic to be permitted to travel westbound.
“We are not saying work should stop. All we are asking for is that you change the flow of traffic so that people can come into Tewantin and still continue to visit the businesses,” he said.
In response, a council spokesperson explained the process.
“Council acknowledged that it would have preferred to provide businesses with more time, however the chosen route was not known until the contractor was awarded in late May.”
“VMS (variable message sign) boards were erected at the bridge about six weeks prior to official construction start date and information was issued to all stakeholders via a digital project news.”
The spokesperson also explained why the inbound lane was chosen.
“Modelling indicated that the westbound closure was the option likely to have the least impact on congestion across the road network.”
“Council immediately door-knocked all businesses in the precinct to provide them with the information and detour map.”
Sunshine Coast News asked the council how many complaints it has received but did not receive a response.
A serious crash occurred on Beckmans Road on Wednesday evening. The Queensland Ambulance Service told SCN that an ambulance was able to get to the scene in about 10 minutes.
