We, the undersigned residents of Emerald in Central Highlands, request that: Department of Transport and Main Roads, Central Highlands Regional Council, Mr Lachlan Millar MP and Mr Colin Boyce MP to immediately upgrade the Opal St - Clermont St (Capricorn Highway) intersection with traffic signals.

This intersection presents a very large safety risk for pedestrians and vulnerable (school attending youth, elderly or disabled) road users as there is no marked crossings and nothing to assist in slowing traffic.

During school pickup – drop-off times, this intersection sees a high volume of motor vehicles; it is also the times that vulnerable road users are attempting to cross as they are making their way to/from school or work. This intersection also sees a high amount of traffic collisions due to large volumes of traffic, poor visibility, and nothing to allow road users to safely navigate through an intersection.

To the principle petitioner(s) knowledge, there are two potential issues which currently affect the upgrade:

1. Long discussions and an ongoing business case for the construction of a higher bridge across the Nogoa river.
2. Upgrades to the intersection may potentially have a negative effect on business with highway frontage as it involves taking up car parks which those businesses rely on for trade. 

To these points, regardless of if the construction of a higher bridge were to occur, we believe that having to wait for the business case to close, potential construction of the bridge, and potential re-construction of a significant length of road leading up to the intersection, presents too great of a safety risk to vulnerable road users, pedestrians, and drivers of motors vehicles.

While businesses with highway frontage may potentially lose existing parking spaces, we believe that better signage to the existing parking lots across the road, and having an assisted pedestrian crossing, would allow customers to still access to these businesses safely.

For the reasons stated above; We, the undersigned residents of Emerald in Central Highlands, request that: Department of Transport and Main Roads, Central Highlands Regional Council, Mr Lachlan Millar MP and Mr Colin Boyce MP to immediately upgrade the Opal St - Clermont St (Capricorn Highway) intersection with traffic signals.