What started as a quick glance on Facebook by Boulia Shire Council, Queensland, Mayor, Rick Britton has ended in a project that is claimed locally to be the first of its kind in Australia.
The 3D zebra crossing has worked successfully in India, the United States, Malaysia and Iceland.
The crossing is designed to give drivers the optical illusion of a raised surface causing them to slow down and proceed with caution.
Director of Works and Operations, Harin Karra, said Council initially trialled the 3D crossing on an existing crossing bordering the school and health clinic. A second crossing was transformed at the front of the school and a third is in the pipeline.
“We are gathering statistics as to the amount of traffic and speed of motorists are travelling before we undertake the third crossing project.”
Among the notables giving the new school crossing a trial run was the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who concluded his whirlwind ‘Listening Tour’ of drought affected remote towns of New South Wales and Queensland, in Boulia.
Mayor Britton said one of the hot topics discussed was the Outback Way and the many benefits improvement to the ‘Longest Shortcut’ would bring to the small communities along its path.
“I believe the general consensus of outback communities is that the Government needs to invest more in regional and remote Australia. We are not looking for a hand out, rather a hand up.”
