General News
1 February, 2021
Council calls for crossing change
Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) is calling for change after a woman was struck on the pedestrian crossing outside of the Post Office Centre in Mareeba last week.
Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) is calling for change after a woman was struck on the pedestrian crossing outside of the Post Office Centre in Mareeba last week.
On Monday, January 25 a woman was airlifted to Townsville hospital after being struck by a car while walking across the pedestrian crossing with her son.
Currently MSC and its Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) have appealed to the Department of Transport and Main Roads to assist them with the crossing.
TAC provides expert advice to Council on traffic, road and transport matters and is chaired by MSC Deputy Mayor Kevin Davies.
“We have been discussing this (pedestrian crossing) with main roads for a while now,” he said.
“They’re doing a study on it and trying to get some funding for it to put something up to warn people.
“You hit a button and an orange light flashes or something to warn motorists.
“Motorists should be sticking to the speed limit, 40, its slow enough down the main street to see someone and stop in time.”
More noise is being created about the bypass around Mareeba to alleviate traffic through the main street, according to Mr Davies however this is not the solution.
“The bypass will help the heavy vehicles loaded with explosives, fuel, waste ect. and will get them out of the main street,” he said.
“The bypass would not have stopped this incident, it was a vehicle that hit them so we need to do something with the crossing.
“The main thing is to get some sort of a warning light or a hazard light installed at the crossing for pedestrians to use.”
Mr Davies is imploring motorists to check for pedestrians and slow down at pedestrian crossings to help prevent more accidents
