🚨 The Issue: Unsafe and Unsuitable Entry Point to Miami’s Gold Coast Highway Service Road
We urge the City of Gold Coast to take decisive action to permanently close the northern entry point from the Gold Coast Highway to the Miami service road. This appeal is made in the interest of:

• Public safety
• Traffic efficiency
• Protecting the amenity and daily quality of life of residents living along the service road

Why This Entry Is a Problem:
The highway access:

• Increases through-traffic on a local service road not designed for high-volume use
• Creates safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and residents
• Interferes with nearby bus stop operations, leading to confusion and dangerous merging
• Has poor visibility, particularly near the blind bend at Kelly Avenue
• Encourages cut-through traffic, undermining the road’s purpose as local-only access

🔧 Background: What Changed During the GCLR Works
During the GCLR construction, the highway entry was temporarily blocked, and access was provided via Brakes Crescent. This change:

• Was widely supported by local residents
• Reduced traffic volume and incidents
• Proved far safer and more manageable for all road users

🔎 Key Reasons for Change

1. Increased Traffic Volume & Resident Safety

Closure of Kelly Avenue has pushed more vehicles into the service lane prior to it being temporarily closed, as a shortcut to the beach, North Burleigh Surf Club, Ed Hardy Park, and the Miami Tavern. This lane is not built for high volumes, raising serious safety concerns.

2. Conflict with Pedestrian & Bike Infrastructure

The bike and pedestrian path intersects the original service lane entry, creating conflict points between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. Observed behaviour indicates that many cyclists and pedestrians do not anticipate or yield to vehicles turning from the highway, significantly increasing the risk of accidents at this junction.

3. Bus Stop & Highway Flow Disruption

A bus stop located just north of the service lane entrance has resulted in several dangerous incidents, where buses re-entering traffic interfere with vehicles attempting to turn into the lane. This creates confusion and unsafe decision-making for drivers, impacting both safety and traffic flow on the highway.

4. Poor Visibility & Blind Spots

Due to its alignment with existing pedestrian and cycling routes, the service lane is frequently used by non-motorised traffic. Cyclists and pedestrians commonly enter the lane from both ends, and the bend near Kelly Avenue remains a blind spot with very limited visibility, further increasing the risk of collisions.

 
✅ Our Proposal:
We ask Council to:

• Permanently close the highway entry to the service road
• Formalise the safer Brakes Crescent entry as the only access
• Install signage, bollards, or kerb treatments as needed

This would retain access for:

• Residents
• Emergency services
• Council waste & maintenance
• Deliveries and trades 

🌿 Community Benefits:

• Better traffic flow on the Gold Coast Highway
• Fewer accidents and near-misses in the service lane
• Improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists
• Reduced noise and disruption for local homes
• Preserves the service lane’s intended use as local-only access

✍️ How You Can Help
Support this petition to protect safety in your neighbourhood.
Together, we can ensure this proven, safer configuration becomes permanent.