After a decade long campaign for traffic lights at Anita Street in Redland Bay, spokesperson Leeanne Lillicrap said it was a privilege to wait at the lights she that her neighbourhood had fought so hard for.
"It's so rewarding to see the lights up. We can finally rest easy knowing that our street is already so much safer," she said.
Ten years after they were first promised, a set of traffic lights have been installed at the Anita Street and Cleveland Redland Bay Road intersection.
Ms Lillicrap's mother has lived on Meredith Place - which can be accessed only by the intersection - for more than 30 years.
"Down Anita Street there are three estates with an estimated 200 houses and only one access point at Cleveland Redland Bay Road, and it's so dangerous to get around those corners," Ms Lillicrap said.
"These lights are vital to not only get traffic around the corner safely, but to help pedestrians cross the road.
"School kids were risking their lives running across traffic to get to the school bus or home, P-platers were scared to turn right into traffic, and elderly residents were stressed they would not make appointments on time in peak traffic hours."
After a public meeting organised by Redland Bay residents, lights were first approved by the state government in 2011.
In the excitement, residents were featured on the front page of the Redland Times in September 2011.
But the lights were put on hold when it was realised the upgrade would require more funding than the $1.1 million allocated, with a need to widen the road to four lanes.
"Everyone was very excited after the initial approval in 2011, but we held off popping the champagne because we had already seen a lot of broken promises," Ms Lillicrap said.
"It left many residents with a bad taste in their mouths and loss of faith that the powers to be would do the right thing and put people's lives and safety first, it was so disheartening."
The work was expected to start in early 2012 and be completed in May the same year, but physical work on the site did not start until June 2020 when an additional $15 million was secured for Redland road upgrades in the state government's COVID-19 Road Stimulus Plan.
MP Kim Richards said the upgrades to Anita Street would include footpath improvements, a pedestrian crossing and provisions for bike riders that were hoped to make accessing the nearby bus stop safer.
Residents revisited the intersection on Friday afternoon to see the lights, including Jade Adams who was just a baby when the lights were approved and is now in her final year of primary school, and resident Kathryn Allan.
Ms Lillicrap said there was relief in the community.
"Each time I enter or exit the Anita Street Intersection now, I notice the expression on the other drivers entering or exiting the street and they seem much more relaxed," she said.
"I feel the same way that we don't need to stress or worry about when or how we can safely exist the estate, with lights we feel safe and secure when they turn green to go."
Emily Lowe
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
