Roadworks Complete as Residents Let Out Sigh of Relief

(By Natalie Fennell, Bond University journalism student)

Varsity residents are happy after the roadworks leading to additional lanes for traffic on University Drive were completed earlier this month.

The roadworks were completed by Delfin Lend Lease and the Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) to create an additional lane in each direction, a new path and a bike lane.

Prior to the recent upgrade, cars turning into University Drive from Lake Street added congestion to the one lane each way road.

The road works were originally meant to be completed by Christmas 2010, but were finished in February 2011 due to extreme weather.

Varsity Lakes Resident Daniel Stanfield said the delays in the road works on University Drive created hazardous situations.

“The constant changes made to the road were necessary, but also dangerous,” he said.

“The changes affected the entry to the student car park during the first few weeks of the semester, and at one time exiting was very difficult.”

However, as the improvements are finalized, members of the community are thankful for the progress, regardless of the delay.

Translink employee Lucy Campbell said the changes to University Drive will greatly reduce congestion.

“Before the changes were made University Drive was hugely unpopular with bus drivers because the traffic would often mean passengers were late for appointments, classes and trains,” she said.

“Now that the changes have been made our job has become a lot easier, and I'd imagine that Varsity Lakes residents can finally let out a sigh of relief.”