Commuters are benefitting from safer and smoother journeys along Glass House Mountains Road (inland from the Sunshine Coast), thanks to completed upgrades funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.
Upgrades include a wider road, new turning lanes, and improved access and visibility when travelling along the road, known locally as Steve Irwin Way, between Glass House Mountains and Beerwah.
This stretch of road has a significant crash history, with these upgrades set to reduce the potential for crashes through safety treatments including road and shoulder widening, wide centre line treatment, and turning lanes.
The new turning lanes include new dedicated right and left turns at Kings Road and Beerwah Glasshouse Mountains Motel and a right-turn lane at Waterworth's Nursery. Two new service roads also streamline access to businesses and private residences.
Safety improvements at the main roadside shopping complex are a key feature of the project, with visitors to this popular local shopping destination now benefitting from dedicated entry and exit points, new turning lanes and a formalised parking area.
The project also included extending and replacing culverts, pavement rehabilitation, street lighting improvements, safety barrier installation, on-road bike lanes and other bike rider provisions including line-marking at conflict points.
This $38 million safety project was jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, with each committing $19 million as part of the $511.5 million Road Safety Program.
Quotes attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Anthony Chisholm:
"The Albanese Government is committed to funding safety improvements for local roads, with a particular focus on locations where accidents have occurred, such as this section of Steve Irwin Way.
"With Steve Irwin Way being a key connector to the Bruce Highway it's expected this project will improve safety and accessibility for the more than 14,000 vehicles that use this road daily.
"This project also builds upon jointly funded works completed in late 2022 to improve safety along a stretch of Steve Irwin Way between Beerwah and Landsborough, which runs past Australia Zoo, further extending safety treatments that have been delivered along this busy road."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg:
"This important safety project is already making a major difference for all motorists and bike riders who travel this section of Steve Irwin Way.
"A wider road provides greater separation between opposing traffic flows and more space for road users to move off the road when required, helping to reduce crash risk.
"The new service roads, turning lanes and formal entry and exit points on both sides of the road at the roadside shops at Glass House Mountains will significantly improve safety for customers, business owners and nearby residents, as well as other road users travelling past this location.
"The project also provides much needed improvements to the informal parking area and road verge at the main roadside shops complex, where new kerbs, a paved parking area and resurfaced road shoulders will now help to prevent potholes from forming as they previously did at this location.
"The department is pleased to deliver this important safety project for road users ahead of schedule."
