Right turn from Hale St into Coro

[somebody]

Hi All,
Done some research on the internet on this topic and found some contradictory information.  The official site states that the right turn is to be re-instated on the completion of the bridge which hasn't happenned.  Link: http://www.halestreetlink.com.au/home/inner.asp?pageID=65&mainID=0

This site should be less credible, but lines up with what has actually happenned, link: http://www.skyscraperlife.com/queensland-main-forum/5755-u-c-hale-street-link-road-bridge-12.html

It is however, highly unlikely the right turn from Hale Street to Coronation Drive will be reinstated to the project. There are two main reasons the right turn is unable to be reinstated. The first is due to the amount of road space that is needed to facilitate the necessary left turn lanes and the straight through lanes that carry traffic over the bridge. Secondly, traffic modelling done has indicated that should an at-grade right turn lane be included, the additional traffic light phase required would result in extremely poor operation of the entire intersection.

I can certainly see what they are concerned about.  Only one lane could turn right here now, but it was previously two lanes.  Providing an adequate capacity would require an enormous share of traffic light time for the right turners.  Perhaps even certain people involved in the project weren't advised of this, and that's why the right turn lane is closed off with barriers of a type that are normally used for temporary closures.

Anyway, there's a couple of reasons why I care: it has a big effect on the outbound 444/443/470/475.  I also hate getting stuck in this traffic on the 444.  I think I'll lodge some feedback with the BCC on this one.

[stephenk]

As far as I'm aware the right hand turn will return in a few weeks.

[somebody]

As far as I'm aware the right hand turn will return in a few weeks.

That would be odd.  Why wasn't it returned on openning the bridge, if it was going to return.  Although it is equally odd for the right hand arrows to be painted if it isn't going to return.

[stephenk]

As far as I'm aware the right hand turn will return in a few weeks.

That would be odd.  Why wasn't it returned on openning the bridge, if it was going to return.  Although it is equally odd for the right hand arrows to be painted if it isn't going to return.

It is odd, but this is Brisbane!

[Jonno]

I crossed this intersection as a pedestrian last Friday to walk across the bridge and it takes about 10 minutes with each set of lanes taking a change of lights.  It is a hideous piece of urban design.

[somebody]

I crossed this intersection as a pedestrian last Friday to walk across the bridge and it takes about 10 minutes with each set of lanes taking a change of lights.  It is a hideous piece of urban design.

It's OK if you are heading from the bridge towards Milton as you can use the Coro underpass.  When it's not so good is when you are heading towards Roma St or Caxton St.

This has always been a problem.  Getting from the Cribb St outbound stop to the other side of the road always took about 5 minutes in peak.  What was criminal about that is the QSBS starters could just have easily stopped on Cribb St instead.

[stephenk]

I crossed this intersection as a pedestrian last Friday to walk across the bridge and it takes about 10 minutes with each set of lanes taking a change of lights.  It is a hideous piece of urban design.

Sadly the pedestrian seems to be forgotten about in many Brisbane road projects. For example the Clem7's associated works have added 2 road crossings for people walking between Bowen Hills and RBWH.

[somebody]

Sadly the pedestrian seems to be forgotten about in many Brisbane road projects. For example the Clem7's associated works have added 2 road crossings for people walking between Bowen Hills and RBWH.

Yes.  I still can't believe the Captain Cook Bridge went across with nothing for pedestrians.  They had to add the Goodwill bridge later.

[paulg]

As far as I'm aware the right hand turn will return in a few weeks.

That would be odd.  Why wasn't it returned on openning the bridge, if it was going to return.  Although it is equally odd for the right hand arrows to be painted if it isn't going to return.

It is odd, but this is Brisbane!

I suspect they are getting some traffic counts done in the first few weeks of operation so that when they do reopen the right turn they can get the phasing right.

It will be difficult to get right though, since it will require an extra phase and there will be queuing back onto Hale St from the right-turning traffic which will impede the straight-on (to the bridge) traffic flow.

If only they had built the right turn underpass from Hale St to Coro as originally proposed! It was shot down by the State Govt after modelling showed that there would be big delays to Coro Drive traffic during construction.

Cheers, Paul

[Golliwog]

I agree, they should have built the right turn underpass. Now if they're going to put it in at some stage they're going to have to redo all the laneclosures etc while they do it, or just cause traffic to back up waiting for a green arrow.

[somebody]

I suspect they are getting some traffic counts done in the first few weeks of operation so that when they do reopen the right turn they can get the phasing right.

That actually makes some sense!  Although they could have had a trial phasing and then adjusted it.

I would have much preferred a Coro intersection underpass to a right hand turn underpass.  I have never understood why the right turn from Frederick St to the Western Freeway was given the flyover rather than the straight through Milton Rd traffic either.

just cause traffic to back up waiting for a green arrow.

I think this is preferable to the present situation.  At least a traffic queue banking up past the Milton Rd exit is a disincentive for Moggill Rd traffic from using Coro, so there may be some reduction in traffic as compared to 2008 levels.

[WTN]

Sadly the pedestrian seems to be forgotten about in many Brisbane road projects. For example the Clem7's associated works have added 2 road crossings for people walking between Bowen Hills and RBWH.

Yes.  I still can't believe the Captain Cook Bridge went across with nothing for pedestrians.  They had to add the Goodwill bridge later.

You can add the original Gateway Bridge and the Houghton Highway (somewhat) to the list as well.

[ozbob]

Twitter

612brisbane
 
The right-turn from Hale Street aka ICB aka M3 on to Coronation Drive will open on Saturday August 1st
21 minutes ago via TweetDeck

[somebody]

Twitter

612brisbane
 
The right-turn from Hale Street aka ICB aka M3 on to Coronation Drive will open on Saturday August 1st
21 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Ok, Thanks.

I wonder what effect this will have on traffic?  No doubt, Milton Rd will be better outbound and Coro worse, mostly inbound.

[ozbob]

Twitter

ABC Radio Brisbane  612brisbane
 
Traffic just starting to take advantage of the reopened right hand lane onto Coro Dr.

Banking up now though! http://tweetphoto.com/36296074

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Hale Street turn reopening could cause traffic chaos: RACQ

Hale Street turn reopening could cause traffic chaos: RACQ
COURTNEY TRENWITH
August 2, 2010 - 12:37PM

The reopening of a lane connecting two of inner-Brisbane's major arterial roads could create more headaches than it solves, the state's peak motoring body says.

Traffic can once again turn right on to Coronation Drive from Hale Street at Milton, after 18 months of inconvenience for many westbound motorists.

The lane was closed in January last year to allow for construction of the Go Between Bridge - formerly the Hale Street Link - which opened four weeks ago.

At the time, motoring body RACQ warned not only that the closure would cause significant delays but also that the ''inadequate'' design of the new right-hand turning lane would lead to permanent chaos.

The lane allows for only seven cars to wait at a red traffic light. Others are forced to bank up along the main road.

''We thought that was pretty inadequate in the design for such a major right turn at the bottom of a major road onto another major road,'' RACQ traffic safety executive manager John Wikman said.

''We were concerned from day one ... but [Brisbane City Council] went ahead with that design.''

Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk blamed the State Government for the short lane.

"We can't make the lane any longer because the rail bridge next to Milton Road is in the way," Cr Quirk said.

"Our preferred option was to build an underpass to allow motorists to make a free right turn but the State Government stopped us from doing this because they were worried about traffic impacts [during construction].

"We were confident those impacts would have been manageable but that was the state government's call and what's done is done."

In a bid to limit the potential chaos, council used the turning lane closure period to train drivers to travel from Hale Street to Coronation Drive via other routes and created new right-hand turning lanes on Milton Road.

Mr Wikman said the redirections appeared to have had an impact but he warned gridlock could return as drivers became aware their previous route had reopened.

''Once [drivers] discover it again it could lead to some problems,'' Mr Wikman said.

''If the [right turning] traffic starts streaming back ... it can impact on the traffic going across the [Go Between] Bridge as well as other traffic turning left.

''It was a very important turn but people have found other ways to go and [the council] has done their best to adjust the traffic lights on other approaches.

''[However], it's a less than optimum result.

''I think time will tell what impact it's going to have.''

A council spokesman said traffic had flowed smoothly since the lane opened this morning.

Since it opened on July 5, about 250,000 vehicles have used the bridge to cross Brisbane River between Milton and South Brisbane.

"We are very happy with the way it's been going both in terms of road traffic numbers and the great response from cyclists and pedestrians," Cr Quirk said.

"We projected 12,800 vehicles per day would be using the bridge a few months into operation once things have stabilised and the early figures are very encouraging.''

[longboi]

Sounds like the Melbourne/Grey St intersection all over again 

[somebody]

With the opening of this right turn there has definitely been a somewhat annoying impact on the inbound traffic.  I suppose it is a choice between being shot and stabbed, as when it wasn't possible, Milton Rd outbound was a dead set shocker until Cribb St.  I think I would have preferred a 3rd outbound lane on Milton Rd until Cribb st.

EDIT: And why can't we have the Boomerang St inbound stop back?