Ministerial Statement: Boom gates soon to go and additional funding announced

[ozbob]

Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
05/06/2009

Boom gates soon to go and additional funding announced

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace today announced an additional $8.7 million in funding to further upgrade Beaudesert Road between Fox Road and Bradman Street as part of the Acacia Ridge rail crossing overpass project.

Joined by State Member for Sunnybank Judy Spence and Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett, Mr Wallace made the announcement while visiting the overpass project ahead of the removal of the open-level crossing next week, which will improve traffic flow through the Beaudesert Road bottleneck.

Mr Wallace said the $113 million rail overpass project, which included a $25 million contribution from the Australian Government, involved lowering the Brisbane to Sydney freight rail corridor about 10 metres below Beaudesert Road, and building two 140-metre bridges to carry road traffic over the rail lines.

"Travel times for southside motorists will be greatly improved and the new works will mean the end of this well-known bottleneck," Mr Wallace said.

"Once the open-level crossing is removed, about 35,000 motorists per day will no longer experience lengthy delays as kilometre-long freight trains pass across Beaudesert Road."

Mr Perrett said local motorists had been crying out for a solution to this traffic headache for years.

"We've had to put up with long traffic delays at this level crossing so I know many local motorists will be happy to see the boom gates gone," he said.

"And of course this overpass is a great boost for the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians travelling around the Acacia Ridge area."

Ms Spence, a strong advocate for the project, said the decision to extend the works on Beaudesert Road would be the finishing touch required to improve traffic flow in the area.

"I am very pleased to see this project come to fruition," Ms Spence said.

"We're investing in the road network to meet the needs of rapid population growth in this area and the expec ted growth in road freight traffic in the future," she said.

"When both road projects are complete, the community, local businesses and freight transport operators will benefit from reduced congestion in this area.

"An efficient road network is being created for motorists, while improving safety for the local Acacia Ridge community."

State Member for Algester Karen Struthers said it was a genuine example of how the federal and state governments were working together to manage urban congestion and improve travel times for motorists.

"This project will have a positive effect on the local, regional and national road and rail network as well as providing improved efficiency in freight movements," Ms Struthers said.

"Road safety, congestion and road capacity concerns which were a result of the open-level crossing will be greatly improved."

From 8 June, Brisbane to Sydney freight trains will travel on the new temporary rail track running under the western side of the partly constructed overpass, allowing works on the permanent Brisbane to Sydney rail line to continue.

The Acacia Ridge rail crossing overpass project is set for completion in 2010, weather permitting.

Community members can find out more about the project by calling the freecall hotline on 1800 650 229 or by visiting the project website at www.mainroads.qld.gov.au (search 'Acacia Ridge rail crossing overpass').

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[brad C]

This is the sort of serious funding required to aleviate many of the rail black spots around Brisbane.

Look at the road chaos caused from heavily congested at -grade crossings along the North Coast Line (Carseldine, Bald Hills and Geebung) during peak periods and the reverse effects on rail services when frustration gets the better part of motorists.

Whilst there are some plans afoot to eventually grade separate some of these crossings, I can't see these materialising in the present budget environment. And then there are the battles over whose responsibility the funding will be - the BCC or the State.............

[ozbob]

Photographs of the first train (MB4) to arrive at Acacia Ridge today.

From 8 June, Brisbane to Sydney freight trains will travel on the new temporary rail track running under the western side of the partly constructed overpass, allowing works on the permanent Brisbane to Sydney rail line to continue.

The Acacia Ridge rail crossing overpass project is set for completion in 2010, weather permitting.

The old mainline







Photographs mufreight 8th June 2009