Temporary School Bus Route Is 'Safe'

Nanango’s school buses have to use the Mill Flat Road intersection with the D’Aguilar Highway until the Drayton Street bridge re-opens

January 29, 2014

The temporary closure of Nanango’s Drayton Street bridge has local councillor Barry Green worried now that school has resumed.

Cr Green asked Nanango police to monitor the Mill Flat Road intersection during school hours this week to ensure that school buses forced to use the route can get onto the D’Aguilar Highway safely.

Officer-in-charge of Nanango Police, Sergeant Jason Newton, told southburnett.com.au today police had monitored the intersection yesterday morning and afternoon, and again this morning.

But after investigating, officers did not think the situation posed any unusual risks.

Sgt Newton said the highway had a 60km/h speed limit at the intersection.

As well, there is a prominent stop sign on Mill Flat Road and clear visibility in the area.

“Of course, we can’t prevent a driver breaking the rules and causing an accident,” Sgt Newton said.

“But if everyone obeys the rules there shouldn’t be any cause for concern.”

The Drayton Street bridge – formerly a timber structure subject to load limits – is currently being replaced with a pre-cast concrete bridge.

Work began in early January and the bridge is expected to re-open towards the middle of February.

While work is being carried out, all drivers hoping to access East Nanango – or the Nanango State School – have been forced to take alternate routes.

Drayton Street Bridge — Nanango’s Drayton Street bridge today … the road isn’t expected to re-open until around the middle of February

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Nanango residents will be able to enjoy the town’s first set of traffic lights by the end of May this year if all goes well.

Cr Barry Green said today he’d been advised by the Department of Main Roads that work on the new traffic lights at the intersection of Drayton and Henry streets was expected to begin on April 1 and conclude in the last week of May.

During this time, the intersection will be closed one Sunday between 6:00am and 6:00pm to allow engineers to install circuitry for the lights under the road surface.

Cr Green said he was sure many residents would be pleased to see traffic lights at the intersection.

Funding for the traffic lights was announced in last year’s State Budget.

Council, Nanango