Push for Parkwood footbridge

RESIDENTS say a traffic congestion nightmare on light rail stage two could be averted by an overhead pedestrian bridge.

The Parklands to Helensvale route only crosses two intersections – at Olsen Ave and Napper Rd – and it is the latter near the Pacific Motorway that threatens gridlock.

Bonney LNP candidate Sam O’Connor has flagged the need for a critical infrastructure upgrade and posted a video that reached 14,000 locals.

The light rail crossing at the Napper Rd-Smith St intersection impacts on vehicles leaving Arundel-Parkwood and motorists driving east to the CBD from Pacific Pines.

Apart from the signalled intersection dealing with the trams, motorists leaving a new 1000-space carpark to cross Smith St to access the new Parkwood East station will stop traffic on the major eastwest link.

“I’m fighting for a footbridge because the traffic at the Napper Rd and Smith St intersection is already bad enough,” Mr O’Connor told the Bulletin.

Area councillor William Owen-Jones shared the video and supported an overhead bridge.

“My understanding is it was a value engineered out because of the costs,” Cr Owen-Jones said.