FNQ GRIDLOCK Green light for junction revamp

GREEN space and a wooden pedestrian deck will form part of a $2.5 million revamped road safety fix for an “eyesore intersection” which is set to be given the go-ahead by Cairns Regional Council today.

The multi-million-dollar safety upgrade aims to ease peak-hour congestion and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists at the notoriously tricky Kamerunga Rd and Redlynch Intake Rd intersection.

A set of traffic lights and a left-only turn were included in previous concepts for the Redlynch Village Upgrade project, but have been scrapped from the current proposal.

Division 6 councillor Linda Cooper likened the plan, which includes a wooden pedestrian deck adjacent to the Red Beret Hotel and an upgraded pedestrian crossing, to the Collins Ave village space at Edge Hill.

“The idea is to use vegetation and traffic islands to pull the road in and naturally slow traffic through the intersection,” she said.

“Adding an extra pedestrian crossing will also help, but I think the beautification will stand out; it’s been an eyesore intersection for a long time.”

A previous incarnation of the project, which included traffic lights at the intersection, was rejected outright after community consultation in 2018.

Ally Barber owner Ally Fitzgerald said she thought the left-only turn out of Margaret St would had been damaging to local businesses.

“I’d say around 80 per cent of my customers come from Redlynch or the valley, and to leave from Margaret St and go home, they’d have had to turn left, stop at the lights, cross the railway line, go around the roundabout to come back and stop at the lights again.”

Ms Fitzgerald said the new plan was more sensible.

“I think it would be good to beautify the road, this area’s looking a bit unloved at the moment and the greenery would naturally slow traffic and stop people speeding.

“Members of the Redlynch Village body corporate are looking at beautifying our areas to match what council’s doing.”