Wot-thu! Road improved but speed reduced

What is the point of improving the quality of a road at millions of dollars expense to the taxpayers and ratepayers only to then have the speed limit reduced 33%?

That is exactly what has happened on one of our favourite motorcycle routes – Mt Nebo Rd – and it is not alone.

In recent years we have seen many other popular motorcycle routes upgraded only to then have their speed limit dropped.

The list includes, but is not limited to the Great Ocean Rd, Putty Rd, Bells Line Of Road, Oxley Highway, Blackall Ranges and the Great Northern Rd.

Now it has happened to Mt Nebo Rd which is a section that runs over Mt Glorious west of Brisbane.

The speed limit was 60km/h and the road was quite challenging.

However, over the past couple of years major roadworks costing $3.2m (council and federal money) have widened the road, fixed the camber and included lower slip rails.

All this makes it safer for riders on this notorious stretch.

It was reopened only last month but has been closed down to one lane again after it started to crack in recent heavy rains.

It will remain restricted to single-lane traffic until the end of November for remedial work.

Speed reduced

Moreton Bay Regional Council says the speed limit on that section of the road will be reduced 33% to 40km/h permanently.

Division 11 Councillor Darren Grimwade says there were “a number of curved sections of the road which currently had recommended (but not enforced) speed limits of less than 60km/h”.

“The section of Mt Nebo Road which is currently being remediated has a temporary speed limit of 40km/h as a result of the restriction to one lane under traffic control,” he says.

“During the development of the road reconstruction design two years ago, the Mt Nebo Residents Association requested a permanent reduction to 40km/h along these curved sections of the road.

“A recent speed review was carried out by council along the whole length of Mt Nebo Road which confirmed a permanent reduction to 40km/h along these sections was appropriate and will be implemented to improve the safety of motorists at the completion of remediation works.”

Motorcycle Advocacy Group (MAG) member Stuart Langfield says the speed limit was reduced because the council believed it would reduce the noise of the vehicles to the residents.

“At the AGM of the local residents last year I informed them it would not reduce the noise level but extend its duration by another 50%,” he says.

“Feedback from the residents is that I was correct.”

Motorcycles will also be louder as they will have to engage a lower gear along this section.

So the residents have won nothing!

MAG is also concerned about a reduction of speed limits on the rest of the mountain when Main Roads upgrades the road.