Single lanes for ’most dangerous crossing’
A BUSY inner-city street is set to lose two lanes as authorities grapple with what has been dubbed the most dangerous pedestrian crossing in Cairns.
A proposal to reduce Abbott St to a single lane of traffic in each direction between Shields and Wharf streets will go to the vote at this morning’s Cairns Regional Council meeting.
The move is a direct result of concerns the crossing outside the Reef Hotel Casino does not meet Australian safety standards.
Council officers’ preferred plan – killing two lanes of traffic but including turning lanes at Spence and Wharf streets – is estimated to carry a $60,000 price tag for ratepayers.
Another option would be safer but more expensive to achieve.
It could also carry some kickback from residents sick of CBD traffic lights.
“The installation of traffic signals will provide the safest crossing available for pedestrians and means that the pedestrian crossing will meet the requirements of the Australian standard,” a council report states.
“However, this option may also draw criticism by the public for adding an additional set of traffic lights into the CBD.
“This option is the most expensive, with an approximate cost of $300,000 based on concepts only.”
The council has already copped criticism for its decision to add two new sets of lights as part of its $10.5 million Florence St link project at Abbott and Lake streets.
Council officers also looked at removing the zebra crossing altogether at a cost of $30,000.
“This option would result in compliance with the Australian standard but may be seen as a reduction in the level of safety for pedestrians,” the report states.
“The local businesses also advised that they did not want to see the crossing removed.”
Installing speed humps and flashing lights would cost $50,000 but would still not meet Australian safety standards.
The single-lane option is not expected to greatly increase traffic issues, according to council modelling.
“The volume of vehicles traversing this section of Abbott St is approximately 2900 southbound and 2450 northbound per day, whereas a road with a single traffic lane in each direction is designed to carry 12,000 vehicles per day without unreasonable congestion,” the report says.
“There is ample carrying capacity in Abbot St if the section between Spence and Wharf was reduced to a single lane in each direction.”