A PETITION calling for the widening of the bridge over Harper’s Crossing at Dugandan will be presented to the Queensland Parliament, later this month.

The single lane bridge is currently under repair by the Department of Main Roads and it was that, combined with a recent car crash which prompted Mt Alford’s Rita Kirchner, to start the petition, both online and in hard copy.

“Anyone who regularly crosses that bridge knows to be careful as the ‘give way’ sign on the Mt Alford side is easy to miss and there are a lot more drivers using the road now who aren’t familiar with the dangers,” Rita said.

Even those who drive across the bridge on the crossing along Mt Alford Road can be caught out.

“One morning recently my husband was involved in an accident on that bridge,” Rita said.

“It was early and the fog was thick like it often is at the bridge. He pulled up on the Mt Alford side of the bridge to try to see if there were any cars coming. Sometimes you can see the gleam of headlights in the fog even though you can’t see the other side.

“Kerry couldn’t see any cars and drove onto the bridge.”

But a car was coming from the Boonah side and a crash followed.

“We’re just lucky there was another car behind that one, it could have been a lot worse.”

What has amazed Rita is the number of people who have similar stories.

“I was in the main street of Boonah last week asking people if they would consider signing the petition and so many people told me of the near misses they had on the bridge.”

Her husband’s accident was the prompt she needed to look into submitting a petition to the State Government.

“Mt Alford Road is a state controlled road so it’s the government we have to convince.

“Jon Krause, the Member for Scenic Rim, his office was really helpful with the wording and in setting up the e-petition to the Queensland Parliament.”

The petition wording reads in part: “This single lane bridge has contributed to a number of accidents and near misses and although works have been undertaken to improve safety, accidents continue to occur.

“Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to urgently commit to undertake upgrading the single lane Harpers Crossing to a two-lane bridge and in the short term, implement increased traffic safety by undertaking traffic data count, installing flashing warning lights, larger give way and one lane bridge signage on both approaches and undertake vegetation management to improve visibility.”

Upgrading the signage in the short term was important, Rita said.

“Locals know of the ‘give way’ sign but if you’re new to the area or a visitor, it is easy to miss.

“The signage needs to be bigger and on both sides of the bridge and some of the vegetation needs to be cut back.”

Immediately above the bridge is where Oaky Creek meets the Teviot Brook and floodwaters frequently make the crossing impassable.

“So, if the government chooses to improve safety at the bridge by widening it then it may be a good time to make it flood proof by raising it,” Rita said.

• The e-petition can be found on the Queensland Parliament website (Harpers Crossing upgrade) and the hard copy petition can be found in a number of shops in Boonah. The petition closes on November 25.