It will be safer to cross the road in the Warwick CBD in due course, and ratepayers won’t have to foot the $1.33 million bill.
The funding for the upgrade to safer pedestrian crossings will come from the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program. It was secured after the council lobbied the Department of Transport and Main Roads, which administers the funds.
Pedestrian crossings at the CBD roundabouts will be upgraded to raised priority crossings and the mid-block crossings will be standardised to bring a consistent approach to pedestrian crossings in the city centre.
The council submission was prompted by community safety concerns about the busy crossings.
Road safety advocate Councillor Andrew Gale welcomed the investment.
“The Warwick CBD has seen the positive impacts of regional growth with increasing numbers of pedestrians and vehicles interacting in the region’s major business hub,” he said.
“But this increased activity does increase the risk of collisions. The Warwick CBD is an identified high risk area and the approved upgrades will go a long way towards increasing road safety.”
Cr Gale thanked the Warwick Road Safety Committee for ensuring these upgrades remained on the table until they had been addressed. He also acknowledged the council’s role in securing the funds.
“Council’s works program for maintaining and improving our region’s roads is a comprehensive body of works with many moving parts and the Black Spot Program makes it possible to deliver beneficial works without expense to the ratepayer,” he said.
Pedestrian crossings to be upgraded to raised priority crossings will be at the roundabouts at Palmerin/Fitzroy Sts, Palmerin/Percy Sts, Guy/Fitzroy Sts, Guy/Grafton Sts and Guy/Percy Sts.
The mid-block crossings at Palmerin Street, King Street and Grafton Street will be standardised to bring a consistent approach within the Warwick CBD.
