A concerned local resident has launched an online petition calling for a reduction in the speed limit along a dangerous stretch of Kelvin Grove Road.
The e-petition, which has garnered significant local support, aims to lower the current limit to 40 km/h between Herston Road and the Normanby 5-way intersection.
The push for this change comes on the heels of a tragic incident in January 2024, when 32-year-old QUT PhD student Arjun Srinivas lost his life in a traffic accident whilst crossing the road at the intersection of Musk Avenue and Kelvin Grove Rd.
This intersection, which serves as the main entry point to the QUT Kelvin Grove campus, is a high-traffic area not only for the university, but also for two local schools and the Kelvin Grove urban village.
Concerned resident and petition organiser, Caroline Gardam, expressed the community’s frustration with the “poor design of this road corridor” and the “de-prioritisation of pedestrian safety and amenity” that has been an ongoing issue for years.
“Research shows the lower the speed limit, the higher the chance of pedestrian survival,” Ms Gardam stated.
In addition to the speed limit reduction, the petition also calls for the review of other dangerous intersections and road corridors in residential and high-pedestrian areas across the state, as well as the consideration of other safety measures such as speed cameras, speed breakers, and skywalks.
The petition has garnered the support of the organisation Space4cyclingbne, which advocates for improved safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists across Brisbane.
The group acknowledged that whilst Kelvin Grove Road is managed by the Brisbane City Council, they believe the Queensland Government should take a proactive role in reviewing this and other similar high-risk intersections and corridors.
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“Urban Village might sound nice on the brochures, but Kelvin Grove Road looks and feels every bit like an urban motorway, creating an intensely hostile environment for anyone attempting to walk or cycle in the area,” the group wrote on a Facebook post.
As the community awaits a response from the state government, the push for improved pedestrian safety along Kelvin Grove Rd continues to gain momentum, with residents determined to ensure that no other lives are lost to the dangers of this critical thoroughfare.
Published 8-April-2024