Roads - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl (Cameron) ‏@Pennycopter

Yeesh this has got to be one of the worst...Bruce Hwy southbound at Anzac Ave #bnetraffic http://t.co/9ZSvrJL3xl

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/3/8/industry-backs-toowoomba-second-range-crossing

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls
Saturday, March 08, 2014

Industry backs Toowoomba Second Range Crossing

The infrastructure sector has thrown its support behind the Abbott and Newman governments' Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project with 63 consortia and individual companies submitting Registrations of Interest (ROI).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss and Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the ROI process, which closed Friday, was designed to gauge the level of interest in the market for the construction, operation and maintenance of the 41 kilometre road project.

"From the broad range of enquiries received, it is clear there is a very high level of interest from industry players, both big and small, in getting involved in this exciting project that will help drive economic growth in Queensland," Mr Truss said.

"The registrations range from international and Australian consortia through to smaller local construction companies."

Mr Nicholls said the companies included many well-known Australian and international major planning and construction firms.

"The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is one of our Government's top three infrastructure priorities," he said.

"The Newman Government came to office promising to deliver better infrastructure and this major road project is a clear demonstration we're keeping that promise.

"We've been able to secure an 80-20 funding arrangement which will mean the Federal Government will contribute up to $1.3 billion for this vital road project.

"It's a project that will have major economic benefits as it opens up further development of the Surat Basin and the Darling Downs.

"Queensland's economy has now seen 24 months of consecutive growth in the property and construction sectors and this project will provide continued stimulus for growth.

"We expect more than 1,800 new jobs will be created as a result of the construction and operation of this project."

Australian Minister for Industry and Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane said the strong show of support from private enterprise was testament to the importance of the bypass to the national infrastructure network.

"This level of interest in building the Second Range Crossing will be enthusiastically welcomed by the people of Toowoomba because it is a significant step towards the start of construction," Mr Macfarlane said.

Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts agreed the strong interest from industry in the project was exciting news for Toowoomba.

"The number of companies registering interest means industry is getting behind this project which means so much for Toowoomba," Mr Watts said.

"The second range crossing will give heavy commercial vehicles a way to bypass Toowoomba's CBD when transporting goods to market, unclogging a bottleneck in the national infrastructure."

Queensland Agriculture Minister and Member for Toowoomba South John McVeigh said the new range crossing would free up capacity on Queensland's transportation networks.

"That's great news for Queensland's agricultural industries as we aim to meet our goal of doubling agricultural output by 2040," Mr McVeigh said.

"The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is an essential piece of road infrastructure that will help us reach that goal and grow our agriculture sector."

Mr Nicholls said there would be further opportunities to attract private sector players in the approaching Expression of Interest (EOI) phase, expected to be launched in late March.

[ENDS] 8 March 2014

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl (Cameron) ‏@Pennycopter

Daily grind for the Centenary Hwy inbound through Sumner #bnetraffic http://t.co/hixKPFDiTv

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Abbott Government considers toll charges for existing roads

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland's Bruce Highway ranked in top 25 of world's most dangerous roads

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Queensland roads win with Federal program

The Newman Government has welcomed a $35.5 billion commitment from the Federal Government for national infrastructure, including key Queensland roads.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said after years of neglect by the former Labor government the package would deliver the Federal Government's promise of $6.7 billion for the Bruce Highway.

"This is the first step to deliver a 10-year program to bring the Bruce Highway up to a satisfactory standard," Mr Emerson said.

"We promised to deliver better planning and better infrastructure and this program also allows us to get value for money which is why we invested an additional $1 billion over 10 years.

"This is a package that delivers certainty for the Queensland government and ends the attempts by the former Federal Labor government to slash their contribution for Federal roads to just 50 per cent."

The Federal Coalition Government recently announced their plan to deliver the infrastructure Australia critically needs through a $35.5 billion Infrastructure Investment Program.

Mr Emerson said key Queensland priorities in the program include the Gateway North Upgrade, Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and Bruce Highway.

"This program delivers more than $10 billion worth of infrastructure," he said.

"This 1700km road is a lifeline for Queensland and the RACQ predicted that if no action was taken 300-400 people will die over the next 10 years.

"This funding will deliver improved safety, capacity and flood mitigation works on the Bruce Highway.

"This will include additional lanes on the Sunshine Coast, construction of the Mackay Ring Road, duplication south of Cairns and key projects near Rockhampton.

"There will also be crucial safety measure including wider centre lines, audible edge lines, more overtaking lanes and intersection upgrades."

[ENDS] 13 March 2014

[petey3801]

*sigh* So, once again, roads get billions upon billions upon BILLIONS of $$, while rail languishes with steam age alignments and speeds even further into the future.

[ozbob]

*sigh* So, once again, roads get billions upon billions upon BILLIONS of $$, while rail languishes with steam age alignments and speeds even further into the future.

Looking forward Petey to the official sod turning for the rail tunnel from Acacia Ridge to the Port.  Would they lie to us?

https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2013/08/28/inland-rail-future-freight

The Hon Warren Truss MP
Leader of the Nationals
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure & Transport

Scott Emerson
Queensland Minister for Transport & Roads

A Coalition Government, if elected, will kick-start one of Australia's most ambitious rail projects, the Inland Rail from the Port of Brisbane to Melbourne through New South Wales.

Nationals Leader Warren Truss said $300 million would be allocated by the Coalition to finalise plans and start delivering a rail line which will create a new future for freight movement in Australia's eastern states.

Mr Truss was at Acacia Ridge in Brisbane today to make the announcement with Queensland's Transport and Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson and the LNP candidate for Moreton, Malcolm Cole.

"The Coalition has a vision for developing a stronger nation, and that includes a better and more efficient freight network supporting a five-pillar economy which includes the mining and agricultural sectors," Mr Truss said.

"This project will help ensure that our transport network is ready to do the heavy lifting required to meet Australia's growing freight transport task of the next 50 years.

"Under our plans, the standard gauge rail line that presently runs from Melbourne to Illabo (near Cootamundra) will finish its almost 2,000 kilometre journey at the Port of Brisbane."

The Australian Rail Track Corporation will be tasked to work with interested parties to establish a staged, 10-year approach to the construction of the Inland Rail, with construction to start within three years.

Infrastructure Australia will also be asked to evaluate the project's economic fundamentals and assess any private sector proposals.

Key tasks include:

    identifying a preferred corridor from Moree to the Port of Brisbane;
    delivering the preliminary engineering design and environmental assessment;
    land acquisition and approvals from Illabo to Toowoomba;
    establishing a corridor between Rosewood (west of Ipswich) and Acacia Ridge (south of Brisbane);
    investigating a rail tunnel linking the Port of Brisbane to Acacia Ridge; and
    a new 24/7 freight connection from Acacia Ridge Intermodal Terminal to the Port of Brisbane to free up capacity for the south-east Queensland passenger network.

Mr Emerson welcomed the investment into rail, and the Coalition's support for this important project.

"This project has been around for many years and now is the right time for it to be delivered," Mr Emerson said.

"Queensland's 10-year freight plan has forecast volumes to increase from 881 million tonnes in 2010 to 1,550 million tonnes in 2021.

"In order to meet the increasing freight volumes, freight services will need to be removed from the passenger lines through Ipswich and some of Brisbane's most populated suburbs."

The Newman Government has already committed $67 million to deliver two of the 10 stages, consisting of two passing loops and upgrades to 11 rail tunnels near Toowoomba," Mr Emerson said.

The project will bring huge benefits to industry as it will increase capacity, reliability and reduce the time it takes to move freight from Melbourne to Brisbane. It will significantly improve freight movements including agriculture and coal from the Western Downs and Surat Basin.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Riverside Expressway urgent repairs delayed for years because motorists don't want it closed

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

New works secure REX future

A new plan to deliver much needed maintenance for Brisbane's Riverside Expressway will reduce disruptions in the coming years.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said a review of the trial lifts conducted over the past two years, along with community feedback, had led to a new works program that would reduce the number of closures while still delivering the essential work.

"We've now independently reviewed the trial program to replace pot bearings on the columns which support the 28 spans of the Expressway," Mr Emerson said.

"The Australian Road Research Board believes we can get the same result with less closures, which is a great outcome for the Brisbane drivers.

"A series of small lifts will allow us to inspect, maintain or replace the bearings where required.

"We promised at the election to deliver better planning and infrastructure and this review delivers on that commitment.

"Labor ignored the report that recommended the maintenance for too long and we are now getting on with delivering a solution."

The works, which trialled a span near the Margaret St off ramp, would have required the Expressway to be completely closed to traffic across dozens of weekends over several years to replace several of the old pot bearings with new 60kg stainless steel pot bearings.

Mr Emerson said a pot bearing supported the weight of the decks on the 40-year-old bridge and allowed movement in response to changing temperatures and different loads.

"We've listened to the community and CBD businesses that said this level of disruption was unacceptable," Mr Emerson said.

A short-term routine maintenance will be carried out with only occasional overnight lane closures in off-peak periods.

Medium and long term maintenance programs are expected to limit the number of closures.

Full details on the program will be available in the coming months.

For up-to-date information on road closures and traffic conditions across Queensland, visit www.131940.qld.gov.au or call 13 19 40.

[#Metro]

Labor this, Labor that. AAAAARGH!!

[ozbob]

Close the bridge and fix it.   No problems closing most of the rail network, eg. this weekend.

REX will probably deteriorate to the point where they will have to act decisively in the end.

<loud sound of fiddles> "What is that noise Bob? " "Relax, it is the fiddlers on George ... "

[#Metro]

Let's not forget the one lane train 'highway'.

'Where else but Queensland'.

[red dragin]

So what they are saying is rather than fix it properly , they are going to half a**e it and leave the big problems for someone else to protect the little remaining positive rating they have with the public?

2017 "The liberals neglected the REX so we are going to build a new gold plated one" - Labor 

Labor spends to fix up Liberal neglect, Liberal cuts to pay for Labor spending.

[James]

Close the bridge and fix it.   No problems closing most of the rail network, eg. this weekend.

REX will probably deteriorate to the point where they will have to act decisively in the end.

<loud sound of fiddles> "What is that noise Bob? " "Relax, it is the fiddlers on George ... "

I think the problem is the Riverside Expressway is like the Roma Street - Bowen Hills of the Brisbane road network. We all saw what happened when there were those issues back in 2006 - the entire city's traffic came to a standstill (much like our PT network does when something serious happens between Roma Street and Bowen Hills, or at the Cultural Centre/QSBS).

And of course, there is the anti-PT mentality. Catch a train? Goodness no. Bus? What bus? People will only travel in their beloved cars and they won't use anything else. Why road users simply can't delay their travel is beyond me. But needless to say, everybody is short sighted, and will whinge when the road falls into disrepair and will need a week-long closure to fix it.

[Jonno]

http://www.planetizen.com/node/23300

Removing Urban Freeways

Monday, March 19, 2007 - 9:30am PDT by
CHARLES SIEGEL
Transportation, United States

As part of our effort to slow global warming, we should be correcting one of the great errors in the history of American city planning: the post-war binge of urban freeway building.
During the twenty-five years following World War II, American cities changed dramatically as freeways were sliced through them -- and it soon became clear that they had changed for the worse.

Instead of reducing congestion, the freeways encouraged people to move to remote suburbs and drive long distances to work and to shopping, increasing traffic dramatically. One study found that, five years after a major freeway project is completed in California, 95% of the new capacity fills up with traffic that would not have existed if the freeway had not been built1.

The freeways also blighted the older parts of our cities. For example, San Francisco stopped most of its proposed freeways and it remained an attractive and prosperous city, but right across the bay, Oakland had several freeways cut through its center, and nearby neighborhoods decayed and were half-abandoned.

Americans soon realized how destructive urban freeways are, and citizens organized to stop them. The first freeway revolt was in San Francisco, where the Board of Supervisors voted to cancel seven of the city's ten planned freeways in 1959, after neighborhood groups presented them with petitions signed by 30,000 people.

The freeway revolt spread, and by the end of the 1970s, it was impossible to build a new freeway through the center of most American cities. But a great deal of damage had been done before the freeways were stopped.

Undoing the Damage
A few foresighted cities have begun to undo this damage. Several have torn down uncompleted freeway spurs, which are relatively easy to remove because they are not important parts of the regional freeway system. For example:

San Francisco's Embarcadero Freeway was planned to connect the Golden Gate Bridge with the Bay Bridge, but only 1.2 miles were built before it was stopped. During the 1990s, the city demolished this freeway spur and replaced it with a waterfront boulevard and new trolley line. The freeway removal made room for thousands of new housing units and millions of square feet of office space. In addition, once the freeway no longer cut them off from the waterfront, the entire new neighborhoods of Rincon Hill and South Beach were developed on what had been underused land.
Milwaukee's Park East Freeway was part of a plan to circle downtown with freeways, but only 1 mile of the Park East was built before this plan was stopped in 1972. In 2002-2003, the city demolished this freeway spur and replaced it with a traditional street grid. Hundreds of millions of dollars of new development have already been built, approved, or proposed in the 26 acre redevelopment district that had been occupied by the freeway or blighted because it was next to the freeway.
It is obviously more difficult to remove mainline freeways that are integral parts of the regional freeway network than to remove freeway spurs, but it has been done:

Manhattan's West Side Highway, an elevated freeway along the Hudson River, collapsed and was closed in 1973. When it was closed, 53 percent of the traffic that had used this freeway simply disappeared. The political establishment took it for granted that they had to replace it with a bigger and better freeway, but citizen resistance delayed the replacement for two decades, and finally even the politicians saw that the city was getting along quite well without any freeway here. Instead of replacing the freeway, the city simply added new medians, a waterfront park, and a bicycle path to the surface street here.
Seoul, South Korea, removed the Cheonggye freeway, the one major freeway that cut through the center of the city, in order to stimulate the economic revival of central Seoul's Dongdaemun district. The river that this freeway covered was restored as a park. Seoul built bus ways to replace the freeway capacity, with the goal of reducing automobile use from 27.5 percent to 12 percent of all trips.
Paris, France, has closed the Pompidou Expressway during the summer, covered the roadway with sand, and turned it into Paris Plage (Paris Beach), which has become a very popular attraction. Recently, the city decided to close the Pompidou permanently as part of a larger plan to reduce automobile use by 40%.

It's important to note that reducing road capacity does not reduce automobile use as dramatically as increasing capacity increases automobile use. Typically, only about 20 percent of the traffic that had used the road capacity disappears.

In the short term, Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policies can be used to mitigate the effect of freeway removal:

Parking Cash-Out:Businesses could be required to give employees commute allowances instead of free parking. Employees could use the allowance to pay for the parking they used to get for free, they could use it to pay for transit, they could keep part of the allowance if they car-pooled to work, or they could keep the entire allowance if they walked or bicycled to work. It is estimated that this policy could reduce commuter traffic (and peak demand for road space) by about 20%.
Congestion Pricing: As in London and Stockholm, drivers could be charged a fee for driving into the central business district at times when roads are congested. The revenues could be used to pay for better public transportation. This policy has been very successful where it has been tried, and the fee can be set at the level needed to reduce congestion to a manageable level.
In the long term, removing major urban freeways should be part of a more comprehensive approach to reduce automobile dependency by promoting public transportation and transit-oriented development. To slow global warming, we must move us from the heavy auto dependency of most American cities toward a more balanced transportation system that works for pedestrians and public transit as well as for automobiles.

Freeways in the Age of Global Warming
Many of the freeways built during the postwar binge are now approaching the end of their lifespan. Unfortunately, the political establishment seems to take it for granted that these freeways have to be replaced by bigger and better freeways, just as New York's establishment took it for granted that the West Side Highway had to be replaced.

Present day West Street in New York -- freeway gone, the roadway is now a pedestrian-friendly street.
Likewise, Seattle is debating what to do about the earthquake-damaged Alaska Way Viaduct on its waterfront. An active citizen's movement and one of the local newspapers says that the Alaska Way should not be rebuilt; it should be replaced by surface streets and transit. But Washington's governor has run a referendum that just lets voters choose between an elevated freeway and an underground freeway, and Seattle's Mayor, Greg Nickels, supports the underground freeway.

Nickels has taken many minor steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Seattle. If he would back freeway removal and more balanced transportation, he could make Seattle into a leader in fighting global warming - an example for the rest of the country and the world to imitate.

Instead, Nickels has backed an alternative that hides the traffic but does nothing to reduce the region's auto dependency and carbon dioxide emissions. He has not learned anything from the huge cost overruns of Boston's Big Dig. And he does not realize that, as global warming causes sea levels to rise, his underground waterfront freeway could turn into the world's largest underground swimming pool.

Rebuilding freeways in an age of global warming is like rebuilding deck-chairs on the Titanic, so passengers can keep following their old habits while the ship sinks.

Now that Seattle voters have rejected both alternatives for replacing the Alaska Way, the politicians will have to start looking at alternatives that are more environmentally sound.

Politicians are looking for a technological fix for global warming and are usually afraid to call for any changes in our way of life. But this is a case where we could change our lives for the better.

Just look at the people who enjoy walking on San Francisco's Embarcadero or walking by Seoul's Cheonggye River. These places are much more livable than they were when they were blighted by freeways jammed full of people driving as if there were no tomorrow.

Charles Siegel is the author of The End of Economic Growth and the creator of the web site Removing Freeways -- Restoring Cities.

1: Mark Hansen and Yuanlin Huang, "Road Supply and Traffic in Californian Urban Areas." Transportation Research A, Volume 31, No 3, 1997, pp. 205-218.

[Derwan]

Brisbane Entertainment Centre bottleneck has a solution, says planner

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-entertainment-centre-bottleneck-has-a-solution-says-planner-20140313-34px0.html

A 28-year-old plan to build an exit from the Gateway Motorway straight to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre could help solve the access problems to the city's main entertainment venue.
But the state government has ruled that option out.

The original plan for the Boondall Entertainment Centre showed extra exits from the Gateway Motorway for traffic from the south, directly into Melaleuca Drive.

Another option was for the exit for traffic from the Gateway Motorway to go to the next roundabout along Bicentennial Road and then go into the current entrance to Boondall.

However, that would mean traffic would have to go through a section of the Boondall Wetlands which a planning source was now dry and had been impacted by early work to build a football stadium at the site.

The source told Fairfax Media the original planned improvements to the Gateway Motorway were now needed, because of the lengthy delays getting in and out of the BEC.

They said the only existing access to the BEC from the Gateway Motorway was from the roundabout at the Boondall Wetlands.

Here, traffic from the south met traffic from the north and continual bottlenecks resulted on Bicentennial Road.

"So everybody that is coming from the south has to give way to the traffic that has come in from the north," the source said.

Planners had always suggested better access to the BEC from the Gateway Motorway.

"If you go down the motorway to the south, there was supposed to be an off-ramp that came off the motorway, through the scrub and onto Melaleuca Drive firstly," the source said on condition of anonymity.

"And even a second one, closer to the existing roundabout, that ran directly into the roundabout that feeds into the stadium.

"So if you pulled all the traffic coming from the south off the freeway, before it gets to the current roundabout, and going into Melaleuca Drive or the second roundabout, then all the traffic coming from the north would just flow through straight away.

"And the traffic from the south would flow in, with neither of them intersecting."

A spokesman for Transport Minister Scott Emerson said improvements to the Boondall Wetlands roundabout were being made as the Gateway North project began.

"The state and federal governments will deliver a $1.3 million upgrade of the Gateway North, including widening the motorway from four to six lanes from Nudgee to Bracken Ridge and incorporate modifications to the Bicentennial Road interchange, including extended on and off-ramps," the spokesman said.

"Improvements to access for the precinct are a matter for the stadium owners."

Boondall Entertainment Centre is a state-government owned facility that is run by Stadiums Queensland, part of Minister Steve Dickson's Recreation, Sport and Racing portfolio.

Stadiums Queensland did not answer questions about what options for improvement it had requested to the Transport Department to improve traffic access to the BEC.

Mr Emerson's spokesman said there were "no plans" for another access point off the Gateway Motorway to service the facility.

"However the Gateway North project will look at ways to improve traffic flow for the existing on and off ramps at Bicentennial Road," he said.

My comment:

EVERY major event at the BEC should include "free" public transport.

This would encourage people to catch public transport instead of driving and reduce the traffic issues.

Also - Boondall Station is a nightmare at the end of events - and not because of a lack of trains.  People with Go Cards have to queue for the two (yes just two) card readers at the entrance.  Those who don't have a Go Card have to queue up to buy their tickets at the single machine on that platform (or cross to the machine at the other platform) - as although the station is manned, they don't actually sell tickets after events.  This is significantly compounded at family events (e.g. Disney on ice) where parents have to go through the whole process of buying a single ticket for each child.

There are often signs up at the station suggesting that people buy their return ticket BEFORE the event to save time afterwards - and that the tickets would be honoured even though they have a 2-hour expiry.

If free public transport was offered (or if the cost was included in tickets like Perth), it would reduce the traffic issues on the roads and eliminate the queuing issues at the station.

[Mozz]

I really really really wanted to train it to BEC for Bruce Springsteen recently - easy for me just Oxley to Boondall.... but getting home was the issue .. tickets said 7.30pm to 10.30pm with trains leaving at 11.30pm and 12pm from Boondall back towards the city.. however as we know, there are no connections, so what is the use of getting back to Central .. only to be stuck... so I left work early, cycled home.... drove to Boondall and parked in the street near the station, walked to Boondall station, walked over the pedestrian bridge and to BEC ... and watched the entire fantastic concert which went from 8pm to 11.55pm ..... and then drove home ... despite my want to use public transport...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Homes may be resumed in Wynnum Road widening

[ozbob]

THE BATTLE FOR BOWEN HILLS

Starting in 1972, inner-city residents of the city of Brisbane in Australia struggled against the Queensland Government's plan to build a freeway that would destroy their community. The residents were offered inadequate compensation for their properties and the State government was cold-hearted and dismissive of the community's concerns. As their voice went unheard, the residents decided to change tact and joined together in and effort to make the Government "sit up and take notice" of them.

To highlight their case, the residents and their supporters occupied recently evacuated Main Roads Department houses. The State Government responded with a provocative show of strength. They used the police to carry out evictions. The Government also used scab labour to hurriedly demolish houses right before people's eyes. The protestors were forced into frightening confrontations with baton-wielding police dramatically captured in this film. When the protestors appealed for justice, they were dismissed by the Minister for Main Roads as "fairies" and "a pain in the neck."

The residents ultimately won the battle. The freeway was never built. Unfortunately their victory came at a price with the partial dismantling of their community in the process.

This film is about winning and how to win. While highlighting the valiant struggle of the people of Bowen Hills, this is also a universal story that may prove helpful to others facing a similar threat.

The Battle For Bowen Hills from Peter Gray on Vimeo.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl (Cameron) ‏@Pennycopter 30s

What a mess..Coro Dr and the Riverside Exp stuffed both ways between Toowong & the City after break downs #bnetraffic http://t.co/8a2WMzGBtC



===============

^ 

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Fountain's Corner forever

The overpass being built as part of the Blacksoil Interchange will be named after a true local icon, following strong community support.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson and Member for Ipswich West Sean Choat said the overpass would be named after former Blacksoil businessman, the late Tom Fountain.

"The location of the overpass, commonly referred to by locals as Fountain's Corner was the location of Mr Fountain's longstanding garage and spare parts business," Mr Emerson said.

"Mr Fountain was well liked and regarded by locals as an icon of this community and so it is fitting the overpass will be named the Tom Fountain Overpass.

"It was an easy decision to make given the huge community support led by Sean Choat.

"We continue to get on with the job of delivering better infrastructure and better planning and are on track to have the overpass completed later this year."

Mr Choat paid tribute to Mr Fountain, who passed away in 1984, but was well known and much loved in the local community.

"Naming the new overpass after Tom provides a true representation of the community in this area," Mr Choat said.

"Mr Fountain assisted everyone who attended his garage and anyone who required the help of his tow truck along the length and breadth of these highways.

"I want to thank Mr Fountain's family for allowing us to honour Tom in this way, along with the many local residents who got behind this initiative.

"Work on the intersection upgrade is progressing nicely with construction 60 per cent complete.

"The upgrade will ease congestion and increase safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians by separating major traffic movements while still retaining access for local business and residents at this busy intersection."

The Australian Government has committed $54 million to the upgrade from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, with the Queensland Government contributing the remaining $39.4 million to the project.

[ENDS]

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Brisbane City Council and University of Queensland race to finish Sir Fred Schonell Dr upgrade

[aldonius]

Anyone who's seen the lane arrangements near this intersection will agree this is an eminently sensible move.

Basically, at the moment SFSD merges from two lanes each way to one, immediately before the 4-way roundabout. SFSD east-west, Munro St to the north, Coldridge St to the south.

What's going to happen is that the small street to the north (Munro) will be closed off to regular traffic and there will be a signalised T-junction. SFSD will be two lanes each way through the intersection (no right turn lane south onto Coldridge though).
See the last page of this PDF.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl (Cameron) ‏@Pennycopter 2m

Not even 7am and that's the Ipswich Mwy inbound from Wacol. Isn't it meant to be school holidays? #bnetraffic http://t.co/rmMWLR1osC



^ 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Legacy Way toll to remain a mystery

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane's Legacy Way tunnel could charge $5 toll for motorists to travel less than 5km

[achiruel]

THE BATTLE FOR BOWEN HILLS
Starting in 1972, inner-city residents of the city of Brisbane in Australia struggled against the Queensland Government's plan to build a freeway that would destroy their community.

Well, I guess Governments (of both colours) have well and truly won that battle.  Bowen Hills is now a mess of freeway/tunnel interchanges.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane's Go Between Bridge has one of the most expensive tolls in the world

[ozbob]

Assistant Minister for Public Transport
Mr Steve Minnikin

JOINT STATEMENT: Construction starts on Gateway Motorway South

CONGESTION on Brisbane's busy Gateway Motorway South will soon ease with construction starting on the widening of Mt Gravatt–Capalaba Road across the Gateway Motorway, including improvements to ramps for drivers entering and exiting the highway.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the project continues the Australian Government's commitment to removing congestion and improving efficiency on our roads.

"The Gateway Motorway is a major arterial road for Brisbane and this stage of the $140 million project will help get traffic moving on what is often a badly congested road," Mr Truss said.

"Not only will the widening of Mt Gravatt–Capalaba Road mean motorists get to their destinations more quickly, they will get there safely.

"We've just completed the extension of the Gateway Motorway South on-ramp to the Pacific Highway, and this widening continues our commitment to increase efficiencies for road users."

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said he was delighted the Australian Government was focussed on improving Brisbane roads.

"This is a much needed upgrade for Brisbane motorists," Mr Vasta said.

"Along with the $1 billion Gateway Motorway North upgrade, it is fair to say the Australian Government has a clear focus on this important corridor."

Assistant Minister for Public Transport Steve Minnikin said the project will provide a safer and more efficient connection, to and from the Gateway Motorway benefiting more than 35,000 motorists who travel on this stretch every day.

"In partnership with the Australian Government, this is another example of the Newman Government delivering on its election promise to deliver better infrastructure and better planning for Queenslanders," Mr Minnikin said.

"I am looking forward to the completion of the project so we can keep Brisbane moving."

The Australian and Queensland Governments are jointly funding the projects, investing $70 million each into the upgrades.

[Jonno]

Same again!

[achiruel]

The corridor that the Gateway Mwy serves is esentially a public transport no-go-zone.  Is it any wonder that congestion is always increasing?

[#Metro]

This motorway and others like it have been in continuous construction since opening.
If you want less congestion, increase the toll price at certain periods during the day.

If there is one thing we can all learn from Clem 7 and AirportLink is that the introduction of a modest toll price ($1-$2 per day), would have a dramatic traffic reduction effect. Usage fell massively upon the ending of the free toll period on both tunnels.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Better service, but no express lanes yet for SEQ toll roads: new owner

[curator49]

The idea of "congestion busting" HOT lanes on our toll roads is ludicrous. The Logan Motorway is four lanes (two each way) for the most part. How is introducing a HOT lane going to work on a four lane road? If the right hand lane is designated a higher toll lane so you can speed everyone else will have to trundle along in the left-hand lane at whatever speed the vehicle in front is doing making it, in effect a single lane road. The motorways (freeways) in the US where the HOT lane is being introduced is usually at least four to six lanes in each direction. One US city I visited last year does not charge a toll on its freeways but there were signs up saying the far left hand lane (remembering the US drives on the opposite side of the road to us) would soon become a so-called Priority Lane (that is a HOT lane) for drivers to speed along and that a toll would be charged for the privilege of using that lane. Every other lane would still remain free. Sensors were being installed at regular intervals to record the vehicles using the HOT lane. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Motorways' new owner Transurban may consider HOT lanes for Brisbane's road network

... A spokesperson for Transport Minister Scott Emerson said there were no plans to increase the maximum tolls for vehicles beyond CPI levels but "like any private road operator, toll road operators can apply to change the speed limits on their roads. Any change would need to be approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.'' ...

What a bunch of hypocrites ...

[ozbob]

[Fares_Fair]

Couriermail --> Queensland Motorways' new owner Transurban may consider HOT lanes for Brisbane's road network

... A spokesperson for Transport Minister Scott Emerson said there were no plans to increase the maximum tolls for vehicles beyond CPI levels but "like any private road operator, toll road operators can apply to change the speed limits on their roads. Any change would need to be approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.'' ...

What a bunch of hypocrites ...

..but it's ok to raise fares for trains, buses and ferries by multiple CPI amounts?   

[ozbob]

^ A ' world class ' example of the spin contempt that drives political processes in this state.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2014/4/29/bruce-highway-remains-top-priority

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Bruce Highway remains top priority

Key flood mitigation works on the Bruce Highway will be stepped up in the coming months as part of the Queensland Government's Bruce Highway "Out of the Crisis" Action Plan.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson today inspected the Vantassel Street to Cluden upgrade in Townsville, aimed at flood proofing an important section of the highway.

"A serious weather event like Cyclone Ita reinforces the importance of delivering projects like this one, as we work to bring the Bruce Highway up to a satisfactory standard," Mr Emerson said.

"More than $1 billion in flood works are currently underway and works are on track despite the recent flooding and rain from Cyclone Ita.

"After years of neglect by the former Labor Government we are delivering our promised additional $1 billion in funding over 10 years for better safety, flood mitigation and capacity upgrades to this 1,700km lifeline."

In October 2012, the Newman Government released the Bruce Highway Action Plan – a 10-year blueprint to upgrade the Bruce Highway. This formed the basis for a 10-year $10 billion package of works with the Abbott Government.

Mr Emerson said works on the $137 million, seven-kilometre Vantassel Street to Cluden site was on track to be completed by mid-2015.

"Works on the rail overpass near Abbott Street and the new Stuart Creek bridge are underway," he said.

"From mid next month, motorists will see more activity on the highway as we start to move traffic to new and temporary traffic lanes, particularly around Abbott Street and Lakeside Drive.

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, with the Australian Government contributing $110 million and the Queensland Government contributing $27.5 million.