Grieving family calls for action
THE heartbroken family of an adored teacher killed in a horror crash at a Townsville intersection want immediate action at the site to improve safety, amid revelations it had already been flagged for upgrades more than two years ago.
Julie Hatton, 62, died at the Woolcock and Weston St intersection at Mount Louisa in a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, just minutes from her Cosgrove home.
It has prompted fed-up motorists to demand safety upgrades including the addition of traffic lights.
The daughter of Mrs Hatton, Michelle Graham, said she and the family had signed a petition to improve the safety of the intersection.
“One fatality is one fatali ity too many,” she said.
Ms Graham said she would like to see immediate action, but her main focus w was farewelling her mother.
The intersection was prev viously earmarked for traffic lights.
A letter from the Department of Transport and Main Roads to a resident in 2017 seen by the Townsville Bulletin confirmed there were “future plans” for lights.
The letter said interim works may also be undertaken amid safety concerns.
It stated construction would be undertaken by the Cosgrove Estate developers Parkside Group once reached a specified size.
However, Parkside Group development manager Michael Tapiolas said that would not happen for at least another five years and already the road was “overloaded” servicing 24,000 vehicles each day.
He said it was a State Government issue as the Cosgrove Estate was not contributing to traffic because its entrance was 2km up the road.
“The intersection is deficient now and the department knows that, but they will just defer the works to us eventually when we get down there (near the intersection),” Mr Tapiolas said.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said in 2017 upgrades were dependent on increased traffic volumes, expected as part of surrounding residential development.
“Based on current traffic volumes on this section of the network, there is no requirement for upgrades at this time,” she said.
Burdell resident David Kerr said he started the petition following Mrs Hatton’s death as something had to be done.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said: “If the police investigation determines the road was a factor, I’ve asked my department to investigate what changes need to happen.” it