AS THE city's population grows the main road linking Mackay to the Northern Beaches has been

Road at breaking point

taking a beating. An average of 27,953 vehicles already travel between Mackay-Bucasia Rd's intersections with the Bruce Hwy and Malcomson St daily, a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said, and that number is expected to grow. With new residential developments set to come online in the Northern Beaches, how long will the

Source: Mackay Daily Mercury 16th April 2012

Mackay-Bucasia Rd be able to withstand the growing volume of traffic? Reconstruction work costing $4.7million, which is scheduled to wrap up mid-year, will slightly widen the road as to also involves asphalt resurfacing. Main Roads said increasing the number of lanes on Mackay-Bucasia Rd between Eimeo Rd and Kemp St would be considered in future planning. Newly elected LNP Member for Whitsunday's Jason Costigan said it might all be a little too late and something needed to be done now. "I am yet to find a single soul who lives in the Northern Beaches who doesn't think that road should be improved," Mr Costigan said. "That area has been neglected for years... at the end of the day people just want a road that isn't going to rattle their cars to bits." Mackay Regional Council engineering services director Stuart Holley said the Northern Beaches was one of the fastest growing areas in Mackay. Mr Holley said there was land available along Mackay-Bucasia Rd that Main Roads could used to make more of the road a double carriageway. Main Roads, however, said there were no plans for this in the immediate future. "We have not recently purchased land at this location and there are no immediate plans to add additional lanes to this section," the Department of Main Roads and Transport spokeswoman said. Mr Holley said the council was well aware of the region's population boom and would consider ideas such as a ring road from the Northern Beaches linking to Mackay-Habana Rd as part of the solution. "The Northern Beaches has seen significant growth in the last 10 years," he said. "Plantation Palm, Blacks Beach Cove and areas around Shoal Point are currently under development." The future planing of roads has also brought on discussion about some alternative ideas like building bridges along the coast to link the beaches together. Mr Holley, however, said this wouldn't be a feasible option. "I think the environmental impacts of that ... I can't see it being a feasible option."

There is already a high amount of traffic flow on Mackay-Bucasia Rd and that load is set to increase with new housing developments scheduled to come online soon
Lee Constable

P: 07 5563 5902 F: 07 5555 5806

E :info@rojeinvestments.com.au W: www.rojeinvestments.com.au Shop 4/ 18 Broadwater Ave Hope Island Gold Coast Qld 4212 31 Whitehaven Dr Mackay Qld 4740 Postal Address PO Box 144 Helensvale Qld 4212 ABN: 32100560129

The works
Mackay-Bucasia Rd 27,953 cars a day travel between the Bruce Hwy and Malcomson St intersections 11,053 cars a day travel between Eimeo Rd roundabout and Kemp St intersection

Current work
A $4.7m reconstruction is set to be completed mid-year Work includes asphalt resurfacing and the installation of route lighting

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