traffic Archives - Mount Gravatt News

Mt Gravatt Officers Target Reckless Drivers as Community Welcomes School Return

Officers from the Upper Mount Gravatt Highway Patrol have increased their focus on road safety, intercepting a series of dangerous drivers on southside roads as thousands of children return to school and police launch a statewide motorcycle safety campaign.

Renewed Focus on Road Safety

With the spring school holidays ending, Brisbane drivers are being reminded to readjust to busier roads and active school zones. The increased police presence is part of the ongoing Operation Xray Spring Break, but it also marks the beginning of October’s Motorcycle Awareness Month, a statewide effort by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) to highlight the vulnerability of riders. The timing is critical, as two motorcyclists tragically lost their lives in separate crashes across Queensland in the 24 hours leading up to the campaign.

Reckless Behaviour on Local Roads

The call for caution follows two recent incidents in the area handled by the Mt Gravatt patrol. On the evening of 27 September, an officer conducting speed checks on the Gateway Motorway near Stretton intercepted a motorcyclist allegedly travelling at 168 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. The 25-year-old Capalaba man received a $1,919 fine, a six-month licence disqualification, and his motorbike was immobilised for seven days.

Just a few days later, on 1 October, another Mt Gravatt officer witnessed a driver allegedly performing a burnout at a red light in Park Ridge. When the officer instructed the driver to pull over, the man allegedly performed a second burnout while reversing. The 48-year-old Boronia Heights man was charged with two counts of wilfully making unnecessary noise or smoke and his car was impounded. He is expected to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on 21 October.

A Shared Responsibility on Our Streets

Police are stressing that road safety is a responsibility shared by everyone in the community. Inspector Gareth Bosley of the QPS’s Road Policing Command explained that motorcycle riders don’t have the protection of modern car safety features, and a simple moment of inattention from a driver at an intersection or while changing lanes can have devastating results for a rider. He urged drivers to actively check their blind spots and give riders enough space, while reminding motorcyclists to wear protective gear and ride to the conditions.

Closer to home, Upper Mount Gravatt Highway Patrol Acting Senior Sergeant Jay Jordan specifically reminded the community that reduced speed limits in school zones are now back in effect to ensure children, who are often walking or cycling, can get to and from school safely. He encouraged all motorists to stick to the speed limit and remain vigilant, particularly around school crossings.

The Human Cost

These safety campaigns are underscored by sobering statistics. As of early October, the road toll in Queensland stood at 231 lives lost for the year. Within the Brisbane region, 33 fatalities have been recorded, with 24 of those occurring on the city’s southside. The statewide total for motorcyclist fatalities has now reached 46 for the year, a stark reminder of the risks faced on the road every day.

Published Date 13-October-2025

Mt Gravatt Roads Among Slowest as SEQ Traffic Worsens, RACQ Reports

Photo Credit: RACQ

Peak-hour commuters in South East Queensland, especially those navigating roads near Mt Gravatt, are now enduring dramatically slower journeys. A stark RACQ analysis of the region’s worsening traffic gridlock shows that average speeds on the worst-hit sections plummet to just 20 kilometres per hour.

Worsening Gridlock Across SEQ

The latest Travel Speeds Report from Queensland’s peak motoring body, the RACQ, paints a grim picture of traffic flow across the South East. Based on data analysed from Transport and Main Roads covering travel last year, the report reveals a steady decline in traffic speeds compared to five years ago in 2019.

On weekdays last year, average morning rush hour speeds were found to be slower on 65 out of 98 major road sections studied across Brisbane, representing 66 per cent of those corridors. The situation was slightly worse in the afternoon peak, with 67 sections (68 per cent) experiencing slower speeds than in 2019. Overall, peak-hour speeds on some major routes have slowed by as much as 39 per cent since 2019.

Hotspots Hit Hardest

Certain areas are feeling the squeeze more than others. The Logan Road section between Padstow Road and Kessels Road, impacting suburbs like Mount Gravatt, Upper Mount Gravatt, and Macgregor, recorded the worst inbound morning peak congestion. Average speeds dropped dramatically from 31 kilometres per hour in 2019 to just 20 kilometres per hour last year. For the afternoon peak, Sandgate Road between Braun Street/Roghan Road and Depot Road saw average speeds fall sharply by 38.6 per cent, from 44 kilometres per hour in 2019 down to 27 kilometres per hour.

Other significant bottlenecks include the Centenary Motorway between the Ipswich Motorway and Dandenong Road, where morning traffic crawled at an average of 31.7 kilometres per hour – a staggering 63 kilometres per hour slower than speeds during free-flowing conditions. Heading outbound from the city, the Pacific Motorway section between North Quay and O’Keefe Street was the most congested, slowing to an average of just 28 kilometres per hour.

On the Gold Coast, the Pacific Motorway stretch from Nielsens Road to the Nerang River at Carrara showed the largest difference between peak and free-flow times in the afternoon, averaging 40.7 kilometres per hour, which is 48.9 kilometres per hour slower than unimpeded travel. Commuters using the Centenary Motorway from the Ipswich Motorway to Fig Tree Pocket Road during the morning peak last year faced an average journey speed of only 35.9 kilometres per hour, adding almost seven minutes to their drive each way.

RACQ calculates this equates to motorists losing more than 28 hours stuck in traffic over a standard working year. Gympie Road users travelling outbound between Kedron Park Road and Albany Creek Road also suffered, crawling at an average of 24.8 kilometres per hour during weekday afternoon peaks, over 18 kilometres per hour slower than free-flow speeds.

Call for Long-Term Plan

In response to these findings, the RACQ urgently calls for a comprehensive, long-term transport plan for South East Queensland. RACQ Head of Public Policy, Dr Michael Kane, stated that such a strategy is desperately needed to tackle the chronic congestion, which is harming the region’s productivity and the lifestyle residents value.

He noted that with the 2032 Olympic Games approaching and continued population growth, addressing transport infrastructure is critical. Dr Kane suggested public support for the Games would increase if people saw clear legacy benefits, particularly better transport options.

Proposed Road and Motorway Upgrades

Dr Kane highlighted critical gaps in the region’s outer ring road system, currently formed by the Gateway, Logan, and Centenary Motorways. He explained that these missing links unnecessarily funnel excessive traffic into and near the Brisbane CBD, causing significant stress on the network. The RACQ believes governments must seriously consider delivering an upgrade for the Centenary Motorway between the Ipswich Motorway and Legacy Way in Toowong. Furthermore, planning for a new north-west corridor connecting the Centenary Motorway with the Bruce Highway must divert through-traffic away from local roads.

Progress is also needed on previously announced projects. Dr Kane pointed out that $1 billion was allocated in 2019 for Gateway North Motorway upgrades, a stretch where motorists faced average afternoon peak delays of three and a half minutes last year just between the Deagon Deviation and Pine Rivers Bridge. He urged that this work and the proposed Bruce Highway upgrades from Pine Rivers Bridge to Anzac Avenue should proceed.

Public Transport and Cycling Solutions

Beyond road infrastructure, the RACQ advocates for significant improvements to public and active transport to give commuters viable alternatives to driving. Dr Kane identified the severe congestion on Gympie Road as requiring urgent planning, suggesting solutions could include expanding Brisbane Metro services north to Carseldine. He also proposed extending Metro services south to Loganholme and east to Capalaba, potentially using smaller electric ‘Metro Glider’ buses on other key routes into central Brisbane.

Certainty regarding future public transport connections to the Brisbane Airport precinct is also necessary. Complementing these public transport investments, the RACQ supports the expansion of cycling paths across the region to encourage more people to leave their cars at home for their daily commute. The motoring body affirmed it will continue to work with all levels of government to push for better transport planning that delivers lasting benefits for Queenslanders.

Published Date 09-April-2025

Traffic Disruption in Mt Gravatt Following Pacific Motorway Crash

Photo Credit: Facebook / Leticia Moore

A severe crash on the Pacific Motorway near Upper Mount Gravatt has caused significant disruptions to Brisbane’s morning commute today, October 3, 2024. The incident, involving two vehicles, occurred just before 7 AM, resulting in the closure of all northbound lanes near Klumpp Road.

The incident, which saw one vehicle fully engulfed in flames, prompted an immediate response from emergency services. Fire crews successfully extinguished the blaze by 7:20 AM, averting potential further dangers. The Queensland Ambulance Service reported that no patients required hospitalisation.

The impact on local traffic has been severe. Motorists faced delays exceeding an hour, with congestion stretching over 15 kilometres back to Slacks Creek. The closure particularly affected residents of Mt Gravatt and surrounding suburbs, who found themselves caught in the extensive backlog or forced to seek alternative routes.

The incident’s ripple effects extended beyond private vehicles. Several bus services experienced cancellations due to the delays, further complicating the morning commute for public transport users in the Mt Gravatt area.

Queensland Police managed a gradual reopening of the motorway. By 7:30 AM, one lane was operational, followed by two lanes by 8:30 AM. Authorities anticipated the third lane would reopen shortly after 10 AM, offering some relief to the traffic situation.

Published 3-October-2024

Bus Crash in Wishart Leaves One Hospitalised, Causes Traffic Disruption

Photo Credit: Google Maps

A multi-vehicle crash involving a bus in Wishart this morning has resulted in one person being hospitalised and caused significant traffic disruptions in the area.

The incident occurred at 7:03 AM at the intersection of Newnham Road and Colwyn Street. According to the Queensland Fire Department, one person was trapped in a vehicle and required extraction by firefighters.

Queensland Ambulance Service reported that paramedics assessed five people at the scene. One patient was subsequently transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital in stable condition.

The crash has led to traffic delays in the Wishart area, with commuters advised to seek alternative routes.

This incident was followed by another bus-related crash in Taringa about an hour later, compounding traffic issues across Brisbane.

The Wishart crash adds to a concerning trend of bus-related incidents in Brisbane in recent months. On July 7, a Brisbane City Council bus collided with a concrete barrier at MacGregor. In a more severe incident on March 8, a pedestrian was fatally injured when a bus mounted the footpath in the city centre.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the Wishart crash and are urging drivers to exercise caution, particularly around larger vehicles like buses.

Residents and commuters in the Wishart area are advised to stay updated on traffic reports and plan their journeys accordingly as cleanup and investigation continue at the crash site.

Published 19-July-2024