25 Aug 2007 Brisbane: Oxley - Road bridge chaos around the corner!

[ozbob]

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release  25 August 2007

Brisbane: Oxley - Road bridge chaos around the corner!

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has called for the immediate imposition of a 25 km/h speed limit on the downhill approach to, and on the road bridge at Oxley that crosses the main western railway line.

Robert Dow said:

?Seventeen Mile Rocks Road at Oxley crosses over the main western railway line adjacent to the Ardoyne Rd and Seventeen Mile Rocks Road intersection.  The road bridge over the railway line is approached from the west at the foot of a descent down Seventeen Mile Rocks road with a sharp right hand turn on to the bridge.?

?Many vehicles travel down Seventeen Mile Rocks Road and ignore the 40km/h advisory speed sign on the approach to the bridge.  There needs to be a 25km/h speed limit within 200 metres of the bridge, with suitable traffic calming devices to reduce the chance of a vehicle approaching too fast, and failing to make the curve and crashing through the chain wire fence onto the main western railway line.? 

?In wet weather this danger is acute!?

?The attached photographs demonstrate the potential danger.?

?This section of line is soon to be expanded from the present double to a triple mainline.  It will be necessary to re-engineer the present bridge for this triplication.  When this is done, concrete crash barriers should be erected to afford some protection from vehicles leaving the roadway and crashing onto the railway line.  Should a vehicle crash onto the railway line as a train is passing through Oxley station yard the consequences could be very serious.?


Administration
admin@backontrack.org 
RAIL Back On Track

http://backontrack.org

Photograph 1:  Western view showing the road bridge and the absolute lack of any protection for the railway line adjacent to the road corner onto the bridge.
Photograph R B Dow 2007



Photograph 2: Eastern View Seventeen Mile Rocks Road looking down to the approach and the sharp right hand curve onto the bridge.
Photograph R B Dow 2007

[ozbob]

South West News (September 5) has done a story on the bridge.  Thanks for your interest South West News!
Thanks to Cr Farmer and Ms Attwood (State Member for Mount Ommaney) for their interest too.

Group seeks slower speed

[ozbob]

The Satellite Newspaper (September 5) has done a story.  Thanks very much for your support Satellite!

[ozbob]

A proposed development at Oxley (see --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=333.0 ) will add further pressure to the bridge.  Hopefully something will be done as part of the triplication project.

[ozbob]

Vehicle nearly came to rest on the main western line at Auchenflower today (4 April 2008).

See --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=693.msg2909#msg2909

[ozbob]

Media Release 18 May 2008

Oxley:  Road bridge recent crashes and near misses highlight the critical ongoing danger to passengers, train crew and motorists.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has again called for the immediate imposition of a 25 km/h speed limit on the downhill approach to, and on the road bridge at Oxley that crosses the main western railway line, and the positioning of concrete safety barriers until a permanent safety solution can be achieved. 
A lack of action by authorities and recent near calamities now make this more urgent than ever.

Robert Dow said:

?Seventeen Mile Rocks Road at Oxley crosses over the main western railway line adjacent to the Ardoyne Rd and Seventeen Mile Rocks Road intersection.  The road bridge over the railway line is approached from the west at the foot of a descent down Seventeen Mile Rocks road with a sharp right hand turn on to the bridge.?

?Many vehicles travel down Seventeen Mile Rocks Road and ignore the 40km/h advisory speed sign on the approach to the bridge.  There needs to be a 25km/h speed limit within 200 metres of the bridge, with suitable traffic calming devices to reduce the chance of a vehicle approaching too fast, and failing to make the curve and crashing through the chain wire fence and now the non-existent safety rail onto the main western railway line.? 

?In wet weather this danger is acute!?

?The speed limit needs to be policed!?

?In the last week or so a vehicle crash has taken out the safety rail on the northern side of the bridge going up Seventeen Mile rocks road.  How fortunate it was that the vehicle didn?t crash onto the railway line.?

?The attached photographs demonstrate the potential danger and recent damage. The original media release of 27 August 2007 (see reference 1) also highlights the critical situation.?

?This section of line is soon to be expanded from the present double to a triple mainline.  It will be necessary to re-engineer the present bridge for this triplication.  Until then concrete crash barriers should be erected to afford some protection from vehicles leaving the roadway and crashing onto the railway line.  Should a vehicle crash onto the railway line as a train is passing through Oxley station yard the consequences could be very serious.?

Reference:
1.  25 Aug 2007 RAIL Back On Track Media Release:
Brisbane: Oxley - Road bridge chaos around the corner!
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=206.msg540#msg540

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration 
admin@backontrack.org



Damage to bridge safety fence



Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008



Damaged safety rail


Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008



Damaged safety rail, no protection for railway line.



Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008