Roads - articles and discussion

[colinw]

The railway in Rockhampton floods too ...

[ozbob]

Media Release
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

$8 million announced for Bruce Highway planning

$8 MILLION is on the way to fund planning for priority upgrade works on the Bruce Highway between the Pine River and the Caloundra Road interchange.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss was in Bald Hills today to announce the Australian Government's $6.4 million funding commitment.

"This funding is another step forward in our plans to fix the Bruce Highway. It will allow for high-level planning to help determine the capacity, flooding and safety issues along this 60 kilometre stretch of the highway," Mr Truss said.

State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan, representing Queensland Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey, said reducing or eliminating the impacts of flooding on the highway would be a key priority.

"Several locations along the Bruce Highway between Caboolture and Steve Irwin Way are subject to flooding during major rain events. These include the southbound lanes at King John Creek and Lagoon Creek, and both northbound and southbound lanes at Six Mile Creek," Mr Ryan said.

Federal Member for Longman Wyatt Roy said the planning project was another welcome step towards improving transport links to Queensland's major economic growth area.

"The Pine River to Caloundra Interchange Planning project will provide a roadmap for how and where to fix deficiencies along this stretch of highway, which will be critical to the future of south east Queensland businesses," Mr Roy said.

Federal Member for Dickson Peter Dutton said safety and traffic capacity issues were a priority. 

"The planning stage will be the basis for boosting the highway's ability to cater for current and future traffic demands," Mr Dutton said.

Federal Member for Fisher Mal Brough said the project would be of great benefit to Sunshine Coast motorists with fewer accidents and reduced travel times.

"It will be a very welcome advance on the current situation. I have been advocating for this for a very long time," Mr Brough said.

Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said the problem was mainly a result of an insufficient number of lanes being provided on interchange over-bridges.

"Fixing this, and widening the highway, will help remove the bottlenecks which have been of concern to drivers on this stretch for some time," Mr Howarth said.

The Australian Government is providing $6.4 million towards planning, with the Queensland Government providing the remaining $1.6 million, based on an 80:20 split.

The planning work is due to start in early 2016 and to continue through to 2018.

[OzGamer]

Key features of Nexus' proposed design solution include:

    Four lanes (two lanes each way) from Warrego Highway East Interchange at Helidon to Warrego Highway West;
    Grade separated interchanges at Warrego Highway West, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road and Gore Highway;
    A grade separated connection to Mort Street;
    A 30-metre cutting at the top of the Range as an alternative to the tunnel solution as detailed in the reference design.
    An 800m viaduct built over the existing Queensland Rail line; and
    Continuity of the New England Highway through a new bridge over the cutting.

Great news that the interchanges on the western side will now be grade separated. The reference design had signalised intersections which would have reduced much of the benefit of the road and actually reduced the speed and safety of the existing highways.

[ozbob]

Grade sep. definitely better.  I had to laugh, some of the ' authorities ' wanted to originally build the junction of MBRL at Petrie with the SCL as a flat junction.  It took a lot of arguments to get the fly-overs.  Maybe some folks up on high are finally getting the message .. 

[petey3801]

Seriously going leave this State of not the country!!! We are stuck so hard and fast in the 1970'sthat I doubt we will every leave without an economic crisis!

Agreed, my partner is quite open to the idea of moving to the Netherlands in a few years time...

[Jonno]

Seriously going leave this State of not the country!!! We are stuck so hard and fast in the 1970'sthat I doubt we will every leave without an economic crisis!

Agreed, my partner is quite open to the idea of moving to the Netherlands in a few years time...

Come and visit us in Cophenhagen, Stockholm or Vancouver!!!! Will let you know which! 😜

[colinw]

I've been trying to talk mine into going to Melbourne (where I can keep my current job, just working out of Docklands office).

Although of late I've been doing work for parts of our company based in Zurich, and in Braunschweig, Germany - either of which would be AOK too!

Good luck getting QLD out of the 1970s ... just getting to them was enough of a struggle!  I remember a Brisbane with hourly or worse non-clockface trains, no Merivale bridge, and not a single overhead wire to be seen.

[ozbob]

The Chronicle (Toowoomba) --> 'Expanded' Bypass will be built on time: State Govt

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bike lane win in Wynnum Road upgrade final plan

Property resumptions for these upgrades.  No problem for roads, but it profoundly demonstrates the sheer hypocrisy and stupidity of the former Newman Government with respect to the BaT.  Unable to find the political courage to resume properties for a much more significant project, they were quite happy to compromise the BaT project for weak gutted policy.  We really did dodge a bullet.

Couriermail --> Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's plan to buy 46 properties as part of road widening

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th July 2015

Re: Bike lane win in Wynnum Road upgrade final plan



New Bus Network Proposal (Updated) ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

Bus Reform Blueprint ---> http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

RAIL Back on Track welcomes Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's inclusion of a dedicated cycleway to the Wynnum Road Corridor.

If Graham Quirk wants to be Lord Mayor after the next council election, he will need to do something about the shocking state of Brisbane City Council's bus network. Here is an opportunity for the Lord Mayor to show some leadership and announce the introduction of a 230 BulimbaGlider that will make use of new T2 lanes on Wynnum Road.

Our 230 BulimbaGlider, serving both Thynne and Riding roads, would benefit greatly from the Wynnum Road upgrade project if T2 lanes were used.

RAIL Back on Track supports the use of the additional lanes as T2 lanes for use by buses, taxis and vehicles with more than one passenger onboard. Waterworks road in The Gap has an arrangement similar to what we are suggesting.

A T2 lane arrangement strikes a fair balance between the needs of bus users and car users.

A full bus carrying 85 passengers obviously has a greater claim to the space on equity grounds than a single car with a single occupant. Any delays to Brisbane City Councils bus fleet is a charge on Brisbane City Council's budget thorough higher fuel bills, more bus purchases and higher labour costs. On the other hand, we recognise the project has been funded by everyone in general, including car users, so a balance needs to be found.

The 230 BulimbaGlider is all part of our new bus network proposal http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

The 230 BulimbaGlider would run at least every 15 minutes all day, more frequently during peak hour and have 24 hour service on Friday and Saturday nights.

Come on Lord Mayor, fix it!!

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

Bike lane win in Wynnum Road upgrade final plan
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bike-lane-win-in-wynnum-road-upgrade-final-plan -20150712-giamrm.html

Brisbane Bus Reform: 230 BulimbaGlider - A Purple CityGlider for Bulimba?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11363.msg154861#msg154861

[ozbob]

Media release 17th July 2015

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Bruce Highway Upgrade revised layout released

A REVISED layout for the Bruce Highway upgrade between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway was released today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the layout was based on several years of planning and community consultation.

"The layout we see today has some differences to the layout released in April 2013 because it takes into account the extensive community feedback received over the last two years," Mr Truss said.

"The priority for this upgrade is road safety. The current infrastructure is not up to standard, and this upgrade will create a safer road and ease congestion along this section of the Highway."

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said environmental factors were a higher priority under the revised layout.

"The project team has had to work within a constrained corridor," Mr Bailey said.

"These constraints included the Jowarra section of Mooloolah National Park, the Mooloolah River flood plain, the Mooloolah Cemetery and existing private and commercial properties."

Mr Bailey said the new design layout reduced the effect of the project on the Beerwah State Forest by 11 hectares, compared with the previous draft plan.

"This means only five per cent of the forest will be affected," he said.

"The Department of Transport and Main Roads is evaluating alternative layouts for the Caloundra Road interchange, in a bid to further reduce the effect on the forest.

"The revised layout makes the boundaries for the upgrade corridor clear, and also allows for potential enhancements during the detailed design phase."

Federal Member for Fisher Mal Brough is happy community concerns have been heard.

"The upgrade of this stretch of the Bruce Highway is extremely important and I am glad to see that the design has been changed to try to address some of the concerns voiced by the community over the past two years," Mr Brough said.

"On 23 July I will be holding an information session at Daisy's Place, Glenview at 5pm on the revised design and I encourage everyone with an interest in the upgrade to pop in and see the updated maps.

"In the coming months industry briefings will begin and an Expressions of Interest process proposed to begin in September, with construction is likely to start next year."

During the detailed design process TMR will work with businesses, environmental groups and the community to further reduce impacts where possible.

[Jonno]

Funny how there is money for more roads but the buckets empty for active an public transport!!!!😡😡😡😡

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Fix the M1: Commuters want upgrade in 5 years

[achiruel]

Brisbanetimes --> Fix the M1: Commuters want upgrade in 5 years

CRR?

Loganlea triplication?

Trinder Park straightening?

Pinelands tunnel?

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow  2h

Fix the M1: Commuters want upgrade in 5 years >
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-live/brisbane-m1-commuters-want-motorway-upgrade-finished-in-five-years-20150722-giiep2.html ... v @brisbanetimes #qldpol

Doing the same thing over & over ...  = mess

[hU0N]

Funny how there is money for more roads but the buckets empty for active an public transport!!!!😡😡😡😡

And all the state government money going into the Warrego ave Bruce highways.. Worthy projects, but really, are they the state government's knitting?

[James]

This is probably the one stretch of motorway that I can live with being upgraded. The fact that 7 lanes of traffic (5 lanes of M1 + 2 lanes of Gateway) merge into 3 is insanity and a reflection of the failure of Queensland to provide adequate capacity at merges and interchanges.

Really though, you probably only need 3 lanes coming from the M1, and then enough room for cars coming from the Gateway to merge. It is probably one bottleneck where upgrading the road wouldn't produce a bottleneck further down.

[aldonius]

I support widening the M1 south of the Gateway merge for exactly the same reasons James does - it's currently a choke.

Full busway extension to Springfieldwood is also necessary and we should push for these to be done concurrently.

[dancingmongoose]

I support widening the M1 south of the Gateway merge for exactly the same reasons James does - it's currently a choke.

Full busway extension to Springfield is also necessary and we should push for these to be done concurrently.

I believe you mean Springwood

[Jonno]

I support widening the M1 south of the Gateway merge for exactly the same reasons James does - it's currently a choke.

Full busway extension to Springfieldwood is also necessary and we should push for these to be done concurrently.

To what end? More congestion?  Benefiting no one!!!

[verbatim9]

Yeah Delivered together similar to  Airport link  👍

[Jonno]

Actually build the busway to Hyper Dome first and see if you solve the problem!!!

[ozbob]

7 News --> Satellite cities causing problems in SEQ

[Jonno]

7 News --> Satellite cities causing problems in SEQ

Planning to create congestion!!!!

[ozbob]

SEQ is headlong into transport failure, and still they dance on and play the fiddles ...

It is going to be an almighty mess down the track.   

[Jonno]

SEQ is headlong into transport failure, and still they dance on and play the fiddles ...

It is going to be an almighty mess down the track.   

Down the track?  Down the track? 😜 It's a mess now as it is costing us a fortune in taxes!

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Government investigating a new bridge at Pine River at Bruce Highway to ease motorist congestion at peak times

[Jonno]

Couriermail Quest --> Government investigating a new bridge at Pine River at Bruce Highway to ease motorist congestion at peak times

No money for PT but plenty for them roads!!! Priorities are wrong!!

[#Metro]

Fast way to east congestion - tolls! No new infrastructure required.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Airport Link tunnel sale timetable announced

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl ‏@Pennycopter  15m

WHAT A MESS. The Centenary Mwy not moving northbound from the Ipswich Mwy merge at Darra #bnetraffic



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

^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow  38s

@Pennycopter Great pic!  Congestion just getting worse and worse in Brisbane  ... more roads only with Tony  will not solve it  ... #qldpol

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2015/8/7/construction-to-begin-on-coomera-interchange-upgrade

Media Statements
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Friday, August 07, 2015

Construction to begin on Coomera Interchange upgrade

Construction is set to begin on the Coomera Interchange Exit 54 on the Pacific Motorway, with Seymour Whyte awarded the contract.

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the $74.7 million project on the Gold Coast would help reduce congestion through the busy interchange and create 163 jobs.

"The widening of the off-ramp in both directions is expected to be completed in time for the opening of Scentre Group's new Coomera Town Centre," he said.

"Work on the Exit 54 upgrade is expected to begin on Sunday, with the building of a new bridge likely to be completed next year.

"It demonstrates the Australian and Queensland governments' commitment to delivering enhanced transport infrastructure that will serve the Gold Coast for decades to come."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the upgrade would ease the pressure of rapid residential and commercial growth along the motorway.

"In the past 10 years, the area's rapid growth has led to the current interchange reaching capacity," he said.

"This upgrade will improve pedestrian and cycle safety, reduce the number of rear-end crashes at the end of the exit ramps and provide better access to the new Coomera Town Centre."

Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen said a new bridge will be built to the north of the existing bridge over the Pacific Motorway for eastbound traffic.

"Both existing roundabouts will also be upgraded to signalised intersections to reduce the risk of queuing on the motorway ramps," he said.

Federal Member for Fadden Stuart Robert said the upgrade will benefit local residents.

"This project means Coomera's huge population growth will be matched with better infrastructure and more local jobs," he said.

The upgrade project is jointly funded with $47.4 million from the Queensland Government, $10 million from the Australian Government and $17.3 million from Scentre Group.

[pandmaster]

Couriermail Quest --> Government investigating a new bridge at Pine River at Bruce Highway to ease motorist congestion at peak times

with each train expected to take only 600 cars off the roads

Only 600 cars? Say modestly there were 12 tph then that is 7 200 cars in an hour. That is a significant figure and a lot more than the additional lanes that may be added.

It is very concerning to read that the government is considering this: they have no clue.

[red dragin]

Do remember there will be many who drive to Petrie/Dakabin at the moment that simply switch to the new stations.

It's also likely that the current Petrie starters simply become the Kippa Ring trains, far less than 12tph.

[pandmaster]

Do remember there will be many who drive to Petrie/Dakabin at the moment that simply switch to the new stations.

If you drive there from along the Kippa-Ring line you would not go along the Bruce anyway. That is beside the point. The article drastically undersells the capacity of rail!

It's also likely that the current Petrie starters simply become the Kippa Ring trains, far less than 12tph.

Currently 10 tph terminate/originate at Petrie. With the third track maybe there will be more than that? Whatever number of trains run, MBRL is a lot more efficient than lanes on the Bruce than moving people.

[ozbob]

Los Angeles Times --> L.A. will add bike and bus lanes, cut car lanes in sweeping policy shift

God save the car! 

[pandmaster]

Even LA is turning away from the car. Brisbane is so far behind!

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> South Pine Rd and Stafford Rd intersection in Everton Park one of Brisbane's worst for congestion

CHOKE POINTS

■ Enoggera Rd/Kelvin Grove Rd corridor

■ Musgrave Rd/Windsor Rd, Red Hill

■ Gympie Rd/Hamilton Rd, Chermside

■ Coronation Drive at Park Rd and Hale St, Milton

■ Gympie Rd/Beams Rd, Carseldine

■ Bruce Highway at North Lakes

[achiruel]

So, the LNP wants to use the NWTC as a freeway. Have the Luddites learnt nothing?

[ozbob]

^ nope!