Article: Bus lane would create Clem7 toll road traffic tangle

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Bus lane would create Clem7 toll road traffic tangle

Bus lane would create Clem7 toll road traffic tangle
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

August 27, 2009 07:10am

A PROPOSAL to install bus lanes on major Brisbane central business district streets will force traffic on to the Clem7 toll road and cause congestion headaches, the state's peak motoring body says.

Brisbane City Council plans to put bus lanes on both Ann and Wickham streets while making Adelaide St one way in an attempt to free up road space for the new CityGlider bus service.

Motoring body RACQ said yesterday the closure of traffic lanes would funnel traffic into the tolled Clem7 tunnel and cause major congestion problems.

"In the light of next year's opening of the Clem7 any further excising of general traffic lanes for buses only could be seen as 'tunnel funnelling' . . . trying to force motorists to use the tolled tunnel by increasing congestion on toll-free surface routes," he said.

The CityGlider service, which will run buses from West End to New Farm from mid-2010, was originally a jointly funded proposal between the council and the State Government.

Earlier this year, the Government threatened to pull its support, which could result in the council implementing the project separately from the TransLink network - with fares of $2.50.

On Tuesday Lord Mayor Campbell Newman told the council it was his opinion "they are going to do the work and implement the service", although a final decision had not been made.

Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk said the chance of bus lanes being introduced was slim, but denied it would funnel traffic into the toll road.

"Far from funnelling, this bus service is about reducing road congestion through providing a fast and reliable service for people who would otherwise jump in the car for short trips and further clog the road network," he said.

Bus lanes on Ann St were removed by the Lord Mayor in 2004.

The State Government must sign-off on any changes to Brisbane streets before they can be implemented, but yesterday Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said he had not received the plan.

"The State Government has a tolling policy framework in place that requires operators to ensure there is a free alternate route with an acceptable level of service that can be used by motorists not wishing to use a tolled route," he said.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Will Brisbane learn from Sydney's tunnel air woes?

Will Brisbane learn from Sydney's tunnel air woes?
Tony Moore
August 27, 2009 - 5:31AM

The air quality of Brisbane's Clem 7 road tunnel is likely to come under the spotlight with a report suggesting a similar tunnel in Sydney poses serious health risks to commuters.
A study into the M5 tunnel has found ultrafine particles are at concentrations 1000 times higher than outside air, and have been linked to higher rates of asthma and respiratory disease.

The Clem 7 tunnel from Bowen Hills to Woolloongabba is due to be opened by Easter 2010.

Respected air quality specialist, Professor Lidia Morawska, will this morning discuss the findings of her study into air quality inside the M5 tunnel.

In 2004, Professor Morawska, who is director of Queensland University of Technology's International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, co-authored an Australian Government review of all existing research into the health impacts of ultrafine air particles.

The report these particles could have a major impact on adults and children suffering from diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
In 2006, the NSW Government ordered a new air filtration system be installed in Sydney's M5 tunnel.

The M5 East tunnel provides a link between Sydney's south-west and the city, Sydney Airport, Port Botany and surrounding areas.

The New South Wales government reported: "By installing a filtration plant in this section of the tunnel to remove some of the pollutants, haze in this western section could be reduced by up to 36 per cent and up to 49 per cent in other parts of the tunnel."

"Air in the tunnel passes from the westbound to the eastbound tunnel. The filtration plant would therefore also reduce haze in the eastbound tunnel."

Professor Morawska's report is understood to be the first independent study into the health of the air within the tunnel.

RiverCity Motorway, the company which is building Brisbane's Clem 7 tunnel, was yesterday asked to comment on how its air filtration system would operate to reduce ultrafine air particles.

It had not responded by 6.30pm.

The Sydney study findings will be released this morning at Queensland University of Technology.

[haakon]

IIRC the design for the m5 tunnel was compromised after the locals bitched about the number of smoke extraction stacks. Leading to a reduction in the number of stacks.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Brisbane tunnel builders warned on exhaust health risk

Brisbane tunnel builders warned on exhaust health risk
Tony Moore
August 27, 2009 - 2:21PM

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has hosed down concerns microscopic particles from vehicle exhausts in the Clem 7 tunnel could become a major health hazard.

The mayor's comments came after a pollution expert today spoke of how the concentration of ultra-fine particles in Sydney's M5 tunnel were exacerbating asthma, bronchitis and influenza.

Cr Newman said the Brisbane project, due for completion next year, used a different air ventilation system, with more fans and an extra outlet.

"The Clem 7 tunnel has two air ventilation outlets, one on the northside, one on the southside that are both being built to a large capacity," he said.

"There are 120 jet fans throughout the tunnel to ensure that there is plenty of fresh air coming into the tunnel and is circulated.''

"We were sufficiently concerned that we actually went to Sydney.

"At the time, you could certainly see a haze in the tunnel.

"And that is why we engaged international experts and the best Australian experts to actually assist us in putting
together the tender package for Clem 7 to make sure that we achieved a result that complied all the Australian and international standards."

Professor Lidia Morawska this morning said Clem 7 tunnel builders should be concerned at the results of her research, which found that "ultrafine particle" concentrations in the M5 tunnel were 1000 times higher than in the atmosphere.

Cr Newman said he would be concerned if the Brisbane tunnel was similar to the Sydney tunnel.

"It would concern me if we had not gone to the lengths that we have already to look at M5 East and try to learn from it,'' he said.

The Clem 7 tunnel will open without an air filtration system, which is different technology to a ventilation system.

Air filtration technology - not well advanced in Australia - focuses on removing particles from diesel-based fuels, used by up to 70 per cent of vehicles in Europe.

In Australia, the situation is reversed with most vehicles using petrol.

Cr Newman said the Brisbane design team travelled to Sydney five years ago to inspect the M5 tunnel.

[Jon Bryant]

Talk about a Loose-Loose situation.  The NSBT is sold to the public as the ONLY way to reduce the traffic through the CBD.  Then  when there are plans to reduce traffic through the CBD it is conviently labelled "Funnelling".  So the people of Brisbane loose loose loose.  Time to sack all Traffic Planners who think that they can build their way out of congestion.

[O_128]

Of course the council is trying to get people to use the tunnel. If they have no option but to pay $4.20 then they may take public transport

[p858snake]

Talk about a Loose-Loose situation.  The NSBT is sold to the public as the ONLY way to reduce the traffic through the CBD.  Then  when there are plans to reduce traffic through the CBD it is conviently labelled "Funnelling".  So the people of Brisbane loose loose loose.  Time to sack all Traffic Planners who think that they can build their way out of congestion.

Wasn't it sold as the only way to reduce traffic before the plans for tolls came in or something?