Premier Statement: Next piece of Brisbane's Busway network only nine months away

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction
The Honourable Anna Bligh
09/09/2011

Next piece of Brisbane's Busway network only nine months away

With the latest stage of Brisbane's Eastern Busway now open, Premier Anna Bligh today inspected works on the Queensland Government's next congestion busting project for Brisbane - the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron).

The Premier walked underground from Lutwyche to Kedron, through the 300 metres of tunnel that will slash bus travel times by up to half from the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital at Windsor to Kedron.

Works on the current stage of the $444 million Northern Busway are on track for completion by mid-2012 and Ms Bligh said it would bring a welcome relief to northside commuters.

"Today, congestion on Lutwyche Road can mean a peak hour bus journey between Kedron and Bowen Hills will take up to 30 minutes, but it's expected the average journey will be halved when the busway opens next year," Ms Bligh said.

"And by 2016, this congestion busting project will mean northsiders have access to a bus every 30 seconds in peak hour, increasing to a bus every 20 seconds by 2026. Every full bus takes 40 cars off the road.

"Construction on the project is now over 60 per cent complete. Nearly 700,000 hours have been worked on the Busway to-date, by a team of around 450 workers.

"With tunnelling finished, mechanical and electrical fit-out is underway inside the 1.5 kilometres of busway tunnel.

"Construction of both the Lutwyche and Kedron Brook busway stations commenced in March, with the internal fit-out also well underway including the installation of electrical services, glass and tiles," she said.

Premier Bligh said the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) - would provide 1.5 kilometres of tunnel, two state-of-the-art busway stations at Lutwyche and Kedron Brook, and eight new bus stops, and was designed to re-connect local communities with pedestrian and cycle access and new green space from Bradshaw Park to Kedron Brook.

"The Lutwyche busway station will include an underpass to allow pedestrians and cyclists to access inbound and outbound platforms without crossing busy Lutwyche Road," she said.

"Kedron Brook busway station will have a passenger drop-off zone, increased access and safety for pedestrians and cyclists with enhanced pathway networks, the Kedron Brook busway bridge, the re-alignment of Perry Street and signalised crossings at Lutwyche Road.''

Thiess John Holland Project Director Gordon Ralph congratulated the Northern Busway team on their progress to date.

"We have excavated the entire 1.5kms of tunnel, poured 10,000m3 of concrete to line the tunnel, driven approximately 1,250 piles, and laid around 1,200 tonnes of asphalt," Mr Ralph said.

BrisConnections CEO Dr Ray Wilson said the combined Airport Link projects were now 84 percent complete and on schedule for completion in mid 2012.

"We're proud to be building this vital section of Brisbane's growing busway network," Dr Wilson said.

Once construction is complete, the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) will be handed over to the Queensland Government for final fit- out and commissioning by TransLink.

Prior to opening, TransLink network planners will review local services to maximise the reliability and faster travel times offered by the new busway.

The Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) is part of a busway network for Brisbane that will eventually span the city and will combine with the existing rail network to enhance the city's major public transport system.

When complete, the Northern Busway will be a vital link in the expanding busway network and will reduce travel times for people travelling to and from Windsor, Lutwyche, Kedron, Chermside, Aspley and Bracken Ridge.

The Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) is being built by Thiess John Holland in conjunction with the Airport Link project.

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Interesting statement, the words ' world class '  are  missing in action .... lol

[O_128]

See I have no issue calling the infrastructure world class because it is, its when the services are referred to as world class. And can't wait to to see how the planners screw this one up. 335 running on busway while 330 and 333 stay on the surface raods.

[ozbob]

See I have no issue calling the infrastructure world class because it is, its when the services are referred to as world class. And can't wait to to see how the planners screw this one up. 335 running on busway while 330 and 333 stay on the surface raods.

Yes, form so far doesn't inspire confidence I agree ..

[Mr X]

Another $400m 1.5km job  

I expect a new BUZ route will be created to Lutwyche or whatnot to justify this one.

[SurfRail]

Early indications are a 330 BUZ, the 333, the 340 and the various peak hour workings (eg 331/332/341/376 etc) all to be routed via the busway, with all-stops service remaining on Lutwyche Road in the Truro St to Kedron "actual busway" section.

Another $400m 1.5km job 

I expect a new BUZ route will be created to Lutwyche or whatnot to justify this one.

No qualms here, there is substantially better bang for buck than the Eastern Busway given the works involved and a lot of the costs will have been bundled with Airport Link sunk costs anyway.

[HappyTrainGuy]

335 running on busway while 330 and 333 stay on the surface raods.

I see no problem with that 

[somebody]

Early indications are a 330 BUZ, the 333, the 340 and the various peak hour workings (eg 331/332/341/376 etc) all to be routed via the busway, with all-stops service remaining on Lutwyche Road in the Truro St to Kedron "actual busway" section.

What of 370, 375, 379?  Are they to remain on present routings, via Ernie's roundabout and Bowen Bridge?  Or use the new busway to Windsor but the street north of that?

[SurfRail]

Early indications are a 330 BUZ, the 333, the 340 and the various peak hour workings (eg 331/332/341/376 etc) all to be routed via the busway, with all-stops service remaining on Lutwyche Road in the Truro St to Kedron "actual busway" section.

What of 370, 375, 379?  Are they to remain on present routings, via Ernie's roundabout and Bowen Bridge?  Or use the new busway to Windsor but the street north of that?

Have to wait and see.  My own guess is that everything will be using the overbridge except the Northey Street routes because of the dogleg involved to backtrack from the other side of Lutwyche Rd once they hit ground level.

[somebody]

Have to wait and see.  My own guess is that everything will be using the overbridge except the Northey Street routes because of the dogleg involved to backtrack from the other side of Lutwyche Rd once they hit ground level.

Forgot about them.  Hmm, they could use the overbridge if they used Newmarket Rd instead, but isn't there a park 'n' ride on Northey St?  Probably they should stay on the current route.  According to nearmap, there aren't any bus stops which would be missed if the 37x and 334 used the overbridge.

Early indications are a 330 BUZ, the 333, the 340 and the various peak hour workings (eg 331/332/341/376 etc) all to be routed via the busway, with all-stops service remaining on Lutwyche Road in the Truro St to Kedron "actual busway" section.

This would be the first time that one BUZ passes but doesn't serve a BUZ stop, assuming the 333 remains on current patterns.  Perhaps that isn't a problem.

If the 375 doesn't use the Lamington Ave portal, that means it was built for only a few trips/day.