Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has today opened Brisbane’s newest street as Brisbane City Council’s $128 million Wynnum Road corridor upgrade powers past the halfway mark.

Cr Schrinner said Kulpurum Street in East Brisbane would make it safer for residents, pedestrians and cyclists accessing Laidlaw Parade, Scanlan Street and Eskgrove Street, with the intersection to be activated from today.

“As Lord Mayor, I am committed to delivering the infrastructure our growing city needs and the Wynnum Road corridor upgrade as part of a $1.3 billion investment to get people home quicker and safer,” he said.

“Close to 60 per cent of the upgrade has already been completed, with 146,000 hours of hard work invested in the project as well as 11,800 cubic-metres of fill helping to lay the foundations of the upgrade since works commenced last year.

“From today, it will be safer for residents, cyclists and pedestrians travelling along Lytton Road between Scanlan Street and Laidlaw Parade, with the opening of Kulpurum Street and the switch being flicked on a new signalised intersection.

“Scanlan Street and Laidlaw Parade will be converted into cul-de-sacs, while Eskgrove Street will eventually provide access to a new area of parkland being delivered as part of the corridor’s upgrade.”

Infrastructure Chair Amanda Cooper said the Wynnum Road corridor upgrade would deliver critical safety improvements and time savings once complete.

“Wynnum Road is the main corridor between Brisbane’s bayside and the CBD, yet it is currently considered one of the city’s slowest,” Cr Cooper said.

“The high number of traffic incidents is also very concerning, with 118 accidents recorded between Latrobe Street and Riding Road over a five-year period.

“Works will include widening the road from four to six lanes, delivering a two-way off-road bikeway, realigning bus stops and removing right turn-movements across Wynnum Road to improve safety and reduce congestion.”

From tomorrow, Council will begin trialling a temporary closure of the right-hand turn from Bennetts Road onto Wynnum Road to review its impact on traffic and local residents. This will allow Council to complete the majority of the intersection’s reconstruction during daylight hours.

The footpath on the river-side of Lytton Road will also be reopened during May and the existing outbound lanes will be resurfaced before traffic is moved onto the widened roadway.