Temporary bus stops installed while Goondoon Street load limit in place

Gladstone Regional Council advises that temporary bus stops will be installed tomorrow (Sep 6) in Herbert Street and Tank Street, Gladstone.

Both stops will be in use soon after installation with the Herbert Street stop to be located at the taxi rank next to Woolworths and the Tank Street stop opposite Jax Tyres.

The Herbert Street taxi rank will be temporarily removed to accommodate the bus stop and taxi passengers will be required to use the taxi rank on Goondoon Street.

The stops will operate for the convenience of Star of the Sea school students and other members of the community who would usually step on or off buses at the stops on either side of Goondoon Street alongside Gladstone Square (Valley Shopping Centre) and Apex Park.

The temporary bus stops have been installed following the establishment of a five-tonne gross load limit zone on Goondoon Street, stretching from Herbert Street to Tank Street, as a precautionary measure to enable Council to investigate the cause of several substructure anomalies identified at the location.

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the temporary bus stops were introduced with the safety of its passengers and drivers held to be of utmost importance.

“The five-tonne gross load limit and accommodating temporary bus stops are a precautionary measure only, but Council was not willing to risk the well-being of so many passengers and drivers, particularly with so many school children using the bus service,” Councillor Burnett said.

“The temporary bus stops do create a longer walking distance for Star of the Sea students, but Goondoon Street remains the only street they have to cross and the supervised school crossing service will continue as usual.

“Council conducted in-depth discussions with Star of the Sea primary school and the Buslink and Stonestreets Coaches prior to installing the temporary bus stops to ensure that all were comfortable with the solution.”

Radar scanning has identified that several anomalies below the road surface at the site have recently expanded and will require remedial work to address the deterioration.

Once the investigation has been finalised and a repair program determined, works will commence to rectify the substructure concerns.

The temporary bus stops will remain in use until the substructure anomalies have been repaired.

Council thanks the public for its patience while the repair works are in progress and apologises for any inconvenience caused.