LOGAN MP Linus Power has warned St Aldwyn Road and its shops may become cut off from the Mount Lindesay Highway if proposed upgrades go ahead.
While drivers travelling south along the highway can turn left onto the road, Mr Power said draft plans would change this.
He said a new service road stretching from the Chambers Flat interchange to Trace Road would be the only point of access, with the highway’s left exit likely removed.
The proposed changes are part of the North Maclean Safety Improvement project, announced last month as part of a $20 million shared state and federal funding pledge to upgrade the Mount Lindesay Highway.
SEE RELATED: North Maclean to get highway upgrades
A signalised intersection at Greenbank Road, which would allow service road traffic back onto the highway, was also included in the draft.
While Mr Power agreed with better highway safety, he said balance was needed.
Olley’s Orange Country Market and other shops would miss out on business from highway traffic if the entrance was removed, with drivers inconvenienced.
“It is great the improvements are finally happening, but it is not good enough that Olley’s gets bypassed,” he said.
“I’m calling for a better way to access St Aldwyn Road off the highway so that locals returning home can drop in and get food and medicine for their families, or feed for their animals.”
Mr Power said he would bring the issue up at next month’s state parliament sitting by tabling his petition, signed by more than 800 people.
SEE RELATED: Signatures sought to fix service road
While the petition’s call for a sealed service road between St Aldwyn and Chambers Flat roads has been addressed, Mr Power said what his constituents really wanted was for better access to St Aldwyn Road from the highway.
It is great the improvements are finally happening, but it is not good enough that Olley’s gets bypassed.
- Logan MP Linus Power
“Everyone who signed the petition wants better access to Olley’s shopping centre and I’ll fight for them,” he said.
While the North Maclean Safety Improvement project’s business case has not been finalised, a spokesperson for Main Roads minister Mark Bailey said people could email feedback to southcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au.
They said it was intended nearby property owners would be informed mid-year.
