Commuters living in the Redlands’ northern suburbs should expect their drives along Finucane Road to take longer, and longer.
This month the State Government is imposing speed limit changes which will have the overall effect of increasing trip times.
And recent development approvals will add new intersections, slowing down traffic on this arterial road which is already at capacity.
Speed limit changes for Finucane Road and Shore Street West
Speed limit changes being imposed by the State Government will have the overall effect of slowing down vehicles travelling along Finucane Road and Shore Street West, the main arterial route linking Redlands northern suburbs with Alexandra Hills and Capalaba.
The following speed limit changes are currently being implemented by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR):
- Speed increase from 60km/h to 70km/h, between east of Moreton Bay Road and west of Elmhurst Street, Capalaba.
- Speed reduction from 70km/h to 60km/h, between west of Windemere Road and east of Allenby Road, Alexandra Hills.
- Speed reduction from 80km/h to 70km/h, between east of McDonald Road and west of Delancey Street, Cleveland.
- Speed reduction from 70km/h to 60km/h, between west of Delancey Street and Nelson Street, Cleveland.
TMR says these changes, which follow a recent review of speed limits using the latest traffic data and guidelines, will help improve safety and reduce crashes and road trauma.
Two recent development approvals are likely to impact further on travel times along Finucane Road.
Housing development approved for 58-62 Finucane Road
A 14 lot residential subdivison at 58-62 Finucane Road was approved recently by the Planning and Environment Court following an appeal by the developer against Redland City Council’s refusal of a development application.
The new subdivision will have a left in left out intersection with Finucane Road.
Redland City Council’s reasons for refusing the original development application were:
- Lot layout and design – “The proposed development is not of a lot design or layout which can accommodate or facilitate future development on adjacent and nearby land in an orderly, efficient or cohesive manner”.
- Access, traffic and manoeuvring – “The proposed access arrangement and internal road network for the development is not considered to be a sufficient width or capacity to accommodate demand generated from the future development area”.
- Environmental values – “The vegetation proposed for removal from the western site extent of proposed Lot 16 is not considered to maximise the retention of native vegetation and significant habitat trees and does not minimise or mitigate impacts on matters of state or local ecological significance”.
The Court-approved plans now provide for a public feeder road which can be taken advantage of by developments on adjoining properties.
Plan showing 58-62 Finucane Road outlined in red (left) and the tree retention plan
New Finucane Road intersection approved for Hub68 development
A new five storey private hospital and an aged care facility with up to three storeys have both been approved for development at 58-68 Delancey Street in Ormiston, as part of the HUB68 Centre of Excellence project.
Development approval was obtained through the State Government’s ministerial infrastructure designation pathway which enables developers to bypass local Council development approvals.
Vehicle access to the new facilities will be primarily via a new signalised (traffic light) intersection in Finucane Road about 360 metres west of the existing signalised intersection of Delancey Street with Shore Street West / Finucane Road.
It seems likely that the new intersection will be quite busy, as the Hub68 Centre of Excellence facilities will have to include 859 car parks.
The HUB68 Centre of Excellence is proposed by: Warren Pryde a local businessman whose interests include 70% ownership of the Redland Bayside News, Michael Choi OAM who is a former Labor MP for Capalaba 2001-2012 (and local businessman), and Dr Craig McCombe who is a local GP currently working at The Redlands General Practice located within Hub68.
The inconsistent speed zones along Finucane Road will lead to confusion for drivers. Adding to the confusion will be the constant need to refer to the vehicle dashboard to make sure of compliance. Every second a driver is distracted from looking at the road is an opportunity for a collision. It would be better if a consistent speed limit were imposed for the full length of the trip. Drivers may be suspicious that the constantly varying speed limits are less for road safety and more an opportunity for infringement enforcement?