Ministerial Statement: Klumpp Road bus priority lane open

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Klumpp Road bus priority lane open

More than 6,000 bus commuters can now enjoy enhanced access and travel times into the CBD via Klumpp Road each morning thanks to a new bus priority lane and access ramp.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today opened the new 850 metre bus priority lane and access ramp and said it would improve service reliability and travel times for commuters along Klumpp Road as they approached the South East Busway.

?Significant traffic congestion occurs on Klumpp Road each morning with a large number of drivers trying to access the South East Freeway on their way to the city,? Ms Nolan said.

?Buses have also been delayed in this congestion when trying to access the South East Busway via traffic signals at the Mains Road and Klumpp Road intersection.

?I?m delighted that these delays will now be alleviated for bus passengers following this $2 million investment in public transport by the State Government, through TransLink.

?The funding for this project is part of the Queensland Government?s Translink Station Upgrade Program which is committed to public transport infrastructure throughout South East Queensland.?

Ms Nolan said the first stage of the project, completed in 2006, involved the construction of a 230-metre dedicated bus priority lane and an indented bus bay on Klumpp Road, fronting the Hibiscus Sports Complex.

?This second and final stage of the project extended the bus-priority lane by 340 metres to connect with a 280-metre access ramp to the South East Busway.?

State Member for Mansfield Phil Reeves said the new bus priority lane and access ramp would make a significant difference to commuters in his area.

?This new infrastructure will mean a huge difference for residents of Upper Mt Gravatt, Wishart, Mansfield and surrounding areas who travel into the city each day and for anyone travelling on Klumpp Road,? Mr Reeves said.

?The Bligh Government is working to cut congestion on our roads and make using public transport easier and more accessible. Introducing infrastructure such as this is assisting us reach our congestion busting targets.

?I would also like to take this opportunity to thank residents for their patience during the construction of this vital piece of infrastructure,? Mr Reeves said.

Ms Nolan said upgrading the new bus priority lane and access ramp was part of a package of infrastructure enhancement projects along the Klumpp Road corridor.

?This new facility in Upper Mt Gravatt and numerous others like it throughout the TransLink network are helping to alter commuter behaviour by making it easier and more attractive to make public transport the first choice, which goes a long way towards reducing congestion on our roads.?

For more information about public transport, please visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.