Contrary to the relevant Australian Standard, there was a 3.1 m gap between the tip of the lowered boom barrier and the median island on the northern side of the Kianawah Road level crossing. With the turn line markings directing traffic towards the gap, this increased the risk of road users turning right from Lindum Road and bypassing the boom barrier while it was active.
The ATSB is satisfied that the installation of a longer boom barrier at the Kianawah Road level crossing, and the rectification of 29 other level crossings, where the boom barrier did not fully extend to the edge of a median island or the dividing line of the roadway, has addressed this safety issue.
On 6 July 2023, Queensland Rail advised the ATSB that a new boom barrier of a length as required in the Australian Standard 1742.7 had been installed at the Kianawah Road level crossing on 25 October 2021. Around the same time, the Brisbane City Council updated the road markings and installed a new traffic island to ensure the boom barrier, when lowered, was positioned above the median traffic island.
In addition to correcting the boom barrier irregularity at the Kianawah Road level crossing, on 17 August 2023, Queensland Rail advised the ATSB that the 29 other locations where the boom arm did not fully extend to the edge of a median island or the dividing line of the roadway had all been corrected, with works completed in 2022.
