Councillor: $7m road works may not help

WORK is about to start on the $7 million upgrade of a roundabout in Carrara, but the area councillor isn’t certain it will ease traffic gridlock in the area.

Bob La Castra is concerned the $6.7 million upgrade on Gooding Drive will not be able to handle projected traffic numbers, especially with two major developments on the horizon.

One of those, in the Carrara cow paddock, includes plans for more than 1500 units.

“You get the horrible feeling that with a development of that magnitude (the roundabout upgrades) might not be enough,” Cr La Castra said. “We can only hope.”

The roundabout is on a major route to the Carrara precinct where the Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies will be held, and is also one of the city’s major transport arteries. The new roundabout will include traffic lights on Gooding Dr east and Robina Parkway north, extra lanes and slipways and additional footpaths.

“Motorists can expect lane closures, reduced speed limits, increased congestion and construction vehicles entering and exiting from site compound,” a Department of Transport and Main Roads flyer reads.

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said the works would improve safety and increase the roundabout’s capacity.

It is part of $167.7 million in State Government upgrades. About three quarters of those upgrades have been completed. The roundabout work is expected to be finished by the end of the year.