New roundabout to improve safety of busy Goondiwindi school route

A new roundabout in Goondiwindi will improve the safety of students, teachers and caregivers in the new school year.

Work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday this week to construct the new roundabout at the intersection of McLean and Callandoon Streets.

The project includes new or upgraded crossings on the approach to the roundabout from all four directions, with new refuge islands to make it safer for both cyclists and pedestrians to cross.

Goondiwindi Regional Council has successfully received $330,000 from the Queensland Government’s School Transport Infrastructure Program towards the project.

Cr Jason Watts holds Council’s portfolio for Transport, Roads, and Youth, and said he was very proud that Council had been able to successfully secure this funding.

“This presents a great opportunity to invest in the safety and efficiency of some of the high traffic roads surrounding two of our primary schools,” Cr Watts said.

“The new roundabout will be adjacent to St Mary’s Parish School, but it’ll also be along a key route for many families during the busy school drop-off and pick-up times at the Goondiwindi State Primary School.

“Not only will this construction improve the safety for all road users, but it will also improve the flow of traffic across two key roads in Goondiwindi.”

The work is expected to be completed in the next four weeks to reduce any impact on school traffic, meaning the new roundabout should be ready for when students return for the new school year.

The project complements a suite of recent road and footpath upgrades in the Goondiwindi Region with a focus on improving pedestrian safety, including footpath and pedestrian crossing upgrades in Herbert and Callandoon Street in Goondiwindi, new footpaths along Flemming and Wilson Street in Texas, and a new footpath along Eena Street in Yelarbon.

It also complements the 2021 completion of the cycleway along Lamberth Road, completing a vital ‘missing link’ in Goondiwindi’s cycle network.

“Public infrastructure is always a priority for this Council, and it’s especially important that residents can access our local schools as safely as possible, whether that’s on foot, in the car or on their bike,” Cr Watts said.

“These upgrades will significantly improve the safety for all users of one of the key road networks in Goondiwindi.”