Article: Rail line overpass? Try us in seven years

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Rail line overpass? Try us in seven years

Rail line overpass? Try us in seven years
Tony Moore
June 19, 2009 - 5:18AM

The people of Geebung are frustrated. Very frustrated.

For 10 years they've been lobbying State MP Neil Roberts to fix the Newman Road rail crossing.

Since 1992 there have been more than 60 crashes there.

Brisbane City Council last year put forward a plan for a $163 million overpass, offering to pay half, well above the usual 10-15 per cent share.

But in March 2009 Queensland Transport wrote back saying there was no money to remove level crossings from anywhere in Brisbane until 2015-16.

Ask any Geebung resident and they'll tell you a death is inevitable before then.

Local Railway Action Group chairman Mike Dowd simply shakes his head, telling anecdote after anecdote of cars rushing to beat the traffic lights on the other side and getting caught across the rail lines when the lights turn red.

"I have seen a car trapped. It couldn't get through the crossing because he didn't have enough room and the boom gates came down - smack! - right across the bonnet of a car," Mr Dowd said.

Resident Susan Cross, from nearby Boondall, comes up to shop frequently with her young son, Liam.

She said every morning and every afternoon traffic lined up across the rail line after getting trapped by the traffic lights.

"If the lights change (turn red) they will simply sit there across the railway line," Ms Cross said.

"Nine times out of 10 there is a car sitting there on the tracks."

There are boom gates, traffic lights and all matter of traffic warning signs, plus the entire rail crossing has the brightly-banded yellow stripes warning people not to stop here.

But yesterday morning brisbanetimes.com.au watched a boy on a bike dodge around the boom gates to cross the intersection ahead of an approaching train.

Figures released by Queensland Transport last week show there were 53 accidents - four a week - from January to March in Brisbane where cars hit boom gates.

As one of Brisbane's biggest industrial areas, there is pressure to put in a fourth rail line at Geebung.

Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk is distraught.

"We are ready to go on this (overpass) right now," he said.

"We've done the business case, weve got the cash ready and we've even begun negotiating the acquisition of land," Cr Quirk said.

"All we need is the State Government to come to the party. Council cannot, and should not, foot the entire bill for this project.

"There have been at least 60 accidents around this crossing since 1992 - I'd hate to think how many more there could be if we have to wait until 2015-16."

Mr Dowd said the State Government had unofficially given council the OK to begin resuming homes.

"So they did, until the government pulled the rug," Mr Dowd said.

"The big problem is the poor people who have been resumed and needn't have," he said.

"And the poor people who have now got properties that are worthless. These poor devils have been left high and dry."

Queensland Transport were asked questions at 10.30am and had not replied by late yesterday.

[Derwan]

This is pretty shocking!  I understood the funding was secured and it was only a matter of time until the overpass was built.

For those who haven't seen the crossing and missed my post, have a look in this thread.

We have accidents because idiots drive around boomgates at safer level crossings.  How much more likely are we to have an accident at this crossing - where a driver who us unfamiliar with the layout (or is simply not alert) could find themselves stuck on the crossing with nowhere to go!

There are 3 tracks - but the crossing is wider than usual because it is right beside Geebung station.

Looks like someone will have to be killed before something is done!