E-Petition

The petition of electors of the Division of Gregory draws to the
attention of the House that people driving between Charleville and
Quilpie on the Diamantina Development Road (93A) toward the Ward River
bridge, from both directions, cannot clearly see vehicles approaching the
bridge from the opposite direction because the road curves as it
approaches the bridge: on 3 March 2004 there was a head on collision
between two cars. Two people died and five passengers were seriously
injured. Others have also been killed here; because the Ward River bridge
is single laned, drivers have to move to the centre of the road to enter
it and leave it. This increases the risk of being hit by oncoming
traffic; any vehicle, especially triple road trains travelling at 100
km/hr, cannot stop in time to give way before the bridge; there have been
many near misses here. Some drivers had to reverse off the bridge to
prevent a head on collision.
Your petitioners therefore request the House to: widen this section of
road to two full carriage ways suitable for road trains, including flat
road batters (1/6), to prevent tipping over, and put double white centre
lines; improve the sight distance and manoeuvring distance on both
approaches, so that drivers can clearly see oncoming traffic, have time
to respond and space to manoeuvre as needed; widen and raise the Ward
River bridge; apply speed restrictions; put rubble strips on approaches;
rectify this problem immediately, before more people are killed or
injured.

Widen the section of road between
Charleville and Quilpie on the Diamantina
Development Rd towards the Ward River
Bridge: Requesting the House to widen this
section of road, improve the sight distance
on both approaches, widen and raise the
bridge, apply speed restrictions, put rubble
strips on approaches to rectify the problem