CROSSING the Sunshine Motorway at Havana Road will be a whole lot safer soon with safety improvement works underway on the footbridge which links Coolum State High School with Peregian Springs.
The $720,000 works are jointly funded through an 80/20 arrangement between the Australian Government and the Queensland State Government with the Commonwealth committing $570,000 to the project.
An enclosed mesh screen will be installed along the bridge as part of the works to ensure students and the wider community can safely cross over the busy Sunshine Motorway each day.
Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said the project would provide another critical layer of safety for locals, including Coolum State High School children and their families on their way to and from school each day.
“There is nothing more important locally than ensuring that Coolum State High Students can get to and from school safely, and that’s exactly what these important improvements to the Havana Road Footbridge will achieve,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The important safety improvements will also protect the scores of drivers on the Sunshine Motorway below from objects being thrown from the overpass.”
The project has been warmly welcomed by Coolum State High School Principal, Troy Ascott.
“We are delighted to have the overpass to Peregian Springs made safer for our students,” Mr Ascott
said.
President of the Coolum State High School P&C, Nicole Sklenars said that it was wonderful that the community has come together to improve this vital link to the school.
“I would like to thank everyone who has worked to make this wonderful upgrade possible.
“This infrastructure will support our school and our community for many years to come.”
Ms Sklenars said that she was delighted to see the project was underway.
“It’s very satisfying for the Coolum High P&C to see the commencement of works to enclose the pedestrian footbridge between School and Havana Road West, with protection screening.”
“With around 600 students a day using this bridge, any enhancement to safety is a welcome addition. The P&C would like to ask that parents and teachers take care around the bridge as these works are finalised.”
Mr O’Brien said that the jointly funded project had been funded under the Australian Government’s commitment of $783 million to Queensland road safety improvements through the $3 billion Road Safety Program.
“The Sunshine Coast has never received so much Federal funding for infrastructure, and while we
usually focus on the big stuff like the Bruce Highway, North Coast Rail line and the Airport, these
local projects are just as important to local communities and so I’m keen to secure funding wherever possible.” Mr O’Brien said.
Works will initially be carried out during the day for about one week from 6am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, with the remainder of works to be undertaken at night from 6pm to 6am, Sunday to Thursday.
The project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete, weather and construction conditions permitting.
The pedestrian footbridge will be open outside of construction hours and drivers on the Sunshine Motorway can expect changed traffic conditions to ensure the safety of workers.
For information on road works and conditions across the state, visit www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au, call 13 19 40 or download the QLDTraffic app.
For more information on the Australian Government’s $3 billion Road Safety Program and other road safety initiatives, visit www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.