LOCAL residents have
joined the growing voices
behind the We Can’t Wait
campaign calling for an urgent
solution to the Cunningham
Highway blackspot and
the long-neglected Amberley
Intersection.
Suzy Smith said she counted
sirens every day, with
accidents quite often coming
with injuries or worse.
“I would say there is an
accident around this area
most days, if not every day,”
Mrs Smith said.
“Or we hear the ambulance
and police coming through,
heading up the highway.”
Paul Smith said the congestion
arising from the shift
changes at RAAF Base Amberley
was the most concerning
issue, as the Cunningham
Highway was a major freight
corridor.
“When there is a shift
change, all directions from
the intersection come either
to a standstill or it is very
slow-moving,” Mr Smith
said.
“At certain times of the day
you are trapped in your house
and unable to get anywhere.”
The Smiths, along with
25 other community members,
met with Mayor Teresa
Harding last week to discuss
an immediate solution to improve
the safety for residents
and road users.
“From 2018 to 2022, there
were 90 crashes that involved
injuries and three fatalities on
the Ipswich to Willowbank
stretch of the Cunningham
Highway,” Cr Harding said
of the intersection that had
been on the wish list for the
council for over two decades.
“This national highway and
state-controlled road is dangerous.
While our community
continues to wait for action,
in the past decade there have
been 32 crashes causing injury,
and sadly the fatality of
a young international student
in September 2023.
“My discussions with
members have been supportive
and encouraging. I remain
hopeful the Queensland election
can be the catalyst our
residents need to finally see
some movement towards a
safer Cunningham Highway.
“Ultimately, a final solution
would require the support
of both the Queensland and
Australian governments.”
Local Ipswich News contacted
Federal Member for
Blair Shayne Neumann for
comment on the urgency of
the project.
He said the latest Federal
Budget included funding
towards the Cunningham
Highway blackspot, however
it would mean some infrastructure
projects would have
to wait.
“The latest Federal Budget
provided an extra $1.5
million for the Cunningham
Highway – Safety Package,”
Mr Neumann said.
“This includes safety upgrades
along the Cunningham
Highway between Warwick
and Willowbank, including
pavement treatments and
widening, wide centreline
treatments, installation of
audio tactile line markings
and additional guardrail
treatments.
“TMR is also investigating
a short-term treatment to improve
safety at the Amberley
Intersection as a priority.”
Mr Neumann said there
were no funds in the latest
federal and state budgets for
the Amberley intersection
upgrade design and construction
as the project was still in
the planning phase.
“Following negative
feedback on two proposed
upgrade designs in 2022, the
Queensland Department of
Transport and Main Roads
is now investigating other
options, like a flyover and
bypass, which I support,” he
said.
“The estimated cost of
the Cunningham Highway
planning project, including
Amberley interchange, has
increased, in part due to
increased community expectations
for the Amberley
interchange.
“The TMR is re-assessing
the Cunningham Highway
planning program, focusing
on the highest priority projects
within the $20 million
committed funding.”
Mr Neumann said the
Federal Government was
progressing with several road
and community infrastructure
projects throughout the region,
with increased funding
to support a pipeline of future
local priority projects.
Residents Demand Action on Cunningham Highway and Amberley Intersection
