Traffic improvements for Elizabeth Street

A pedestrian refuge to assist people heading to the Urangan Central Shopping Centre and two-hour regulated parking zones will soon be installed on Elizabeth Street, Urangan to improve traffic and pedestrian flow.

“To accommodate the many uses and anticipated growth in traffic and demand for parking, Council has developed a plan to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety along Elizabeth Street from Boat Harbour Drive to Dayman Street,” Cr Zane O’Keefe said.

Elizabeth Street is a major link in Council’s road network and carries about 10,000 vehicles a day.

It also provides services the Hervey Bay Botanical Garden and the Hervey Bay Community Centre.

“The plan has short, medium and long-term options to upgrade transport infrastructure on Elizabeth Street and promote active transport,” Cr O’Keefe said.

“Active transport infrastructure reduces congestion, is good for the environment, and is good for business.”

“These upgrades will enhance community connections and have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

“The short-term options can be implemented this year.

“They include a pedestrian refuge at the entrance to the Urangan Central Shopping Centre; reversing the internal traffic flow at the opportunity shop, improvements to the Miller and Dayman street intersection to improve sight lines; two-hour regulated parking zones and installing speed cushions at the rail trail crossing.

“The $40,000 for the short-term options can be funded from Council’s existing Operations budget.

“Funding for the medium-term option (pedestrian traffic lights at the rail trail crossing, $200,0000) and long-term options like (traffic lights at the Miller-Elizabeth street intersection, $1.4M) will be considered as part of Council’s future budget deliberations.”