Roads - articles and discussion

[WTN]

The Airport roundabout upgrade costed more than the Airtrain line construction! I think we're getting overdone with roads.

[#Metro]

"When all the lanes on the flyover are open by Christmas, 3,600 vehicles an hour will be able to cross the overpass to get to and from the Airport.

Trains every 15 minutes could handle that load easily.
Oh wait there is no "demand" for that because we open a freeway parallel to it, double the infrastructure with half the load on each.
Real efficient...

You would not build 2 rail lines parallel to each other...

[somebody]

Actually that would be quite a crush on the trains.  Although a sizeable portion of train pax would require two car trips.

[#Metro]

No, it is just within design capacity. And if you want to relieve that, just put another train on.

[somebody]

You're assuming 1 pax per car.  Likely to be much higher than the 1.2 average heading to the airport.

[#Metro]

Not necessarily. Airport bound traffic might have different characteristics to general traffic over the network.
Secondly, the road is unlikely to be transporting 3600 vehicles all the time and constantly.
Thirdly,

3000 x 1.2 = 4320 so, that would be 5 trains per hour, (lets round up to six), there would probably be some modal split there too
because as less people travel on the road, it becomes progressively harder to transfer that road person to rail. A stable level will be thus achieved...

[#Metro]

It makes you wonder if a T2 lane would be helpful there too.

[mufreight]

Not necessarily. Airport bound traffic might have different characteristics to general traffic over the network.
Secondly, the road is unlikely to be transporting 3600 vehicles all the time and constantly.
Thirdly,

3000 x 1.2 = 4320 so, that would be 5 trains per hour, (lets round up to six), there would probably be some modal split there too
because as less people travel on the road, it becomes progressively harder to transfer that road person to rail. A stable level will be thus achieved...

The only sign of stability that I perceive here is where they keep the horses and that obviously is in need of a clean out.

[#Metro]

The only sign of stability that I perceive here is where they keep the horses and that obviously is in need of a clean out.

Well, that is one way to avoid the toll and use the motorway. They only toll vehicles and cars.
Horses are TOLL FREE!!!

Loop hole!! Loop hole!!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Brisbane's morning peak now two hours earlier

Brisbane's morning peak now two hours earlier
Tony Moore
November 16, 2010 - 5:47AM

Brisbane's morning peak hour now starts at 5am, two hours earlier than it did eight years ago, a planning conference was told yesterday.

Queensland Department of Main Roads policy and planning deputy director Mark Cridland told the City of the Future conference at Parliament House the 2002 peak hour was 7am to 8am.

In 2004, it as 6am to 7am, but in 2008 the peak became 5am to 6am, he said.
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Mr Cridland said Brisbane motorists refused to move closer to public transport hubs, or change the way they travelled.

"So what does this tell us? We have a deeply entrenched car and suburban life culture," he said.

Mr Cridland linked this to a big increase in the number of three-car families in Brisbane's outer suburbs and the fact public transport was geared to taking people in and out of the Brisbane CBD.

"The number of three-car households in southeast Queensland increased by over 50 per cent in 20 years," he said.

At the same time, southeast Queensland's population grew by 46 per cent to 2.3 million.

The federal government earlier this year found the cost of traffic congestion would increase in Brisbane from $1.2 billion a year, to $3 billion a year by 2020.

Mr Cridland said while public transport now provided the bulk of transport in and out of the CBD (73 per cent), it was unsuitable for other trips around southeast corner.

While only 28 per cent of people used their car to drive in and out of the CBD, more than 70 per cent of drivers used their cars and work vehicles to travel around the southeast corner.

"What about the other 72 per cent [of journeys] not going into the CBD?" Mr Cridland said.

"Well, 92 per cent of them are by car."

The reason is the increasing distance from public transport and increasing wages which made cars and work vehicles cheaper, he said.

Mr Cridland said these factors were behind Queensland's love affair with the car.

Fifty years ago, 60 per cent of Brisbane's traffic drove less than 10 kilometres to the city for work.

Now, less than 10 per cent of Brisbane's traffic drives less than 10 kilometres from the CBD.

Come the fuel price rises they will be screaming, in their car dependent public transport poor urban slums ...

[Jonno]

Last night Channel 7 news had a great peiece on the failings of tunnels and bigger roads.

Can not link directly to the video (probably my lack of techie abilities) but is is in the Latest from 7 news section at au.news.yahoo.com/queensland#embedded-video-top

[#Metro]

Come the fuel price rises they will be screaming, in their car dependent public transport poor urban slums ...

Oh really, I thought they really enjoyed being stuck in congestion bliss. Love the car. Love getting tolled to pieces and driving long hours and battling rising fuel costs and interest rates right? 

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Prepare for more congestion: road work falling behind

Prepare for more congestion: road work falling behind
Daniel Hurst
November 17, 2010 - 5:53AM

Queensland roads have struggled to score a pass mark on a new infrastructure report card, with upgrades and maintenance failing to keep pace with surging usage.

A report released yesterday by Engineers Australia handed Queensland a C- grade in the local, state and national roads categories. The state's marks on roads were slightly lower than they were in 2004.

The Queensland Infrastructure Report Card 2010 acknowledged the last few years had seen a massive increase in road funding due to growing demand, the higher cost of construction and catch-up in investment.

However, it said spending on new roads and maintenance had not kept up with growing demand as the Queensland population and vehicle usage rose.

"This rating recognises that while there has been significant investment in Queensland's road infrastructure, the overall quality of the road network has deteriorated due to the increase in traffic volumes exceeding infrastructure improvements, and under-investment in maintenance and renewals," the 267-page report said.

"Regional roads in particular have worsened significantly, resulting in an ever increasing backlog of road work."

The report called on governments to acknowledge road usage would continue to rise faster than road construction, meaning more traffic congestion was inevitable.

Some 3.7 million people are expected to live in southeast Queensland by 2026, with 600,000 more needing to use the Brisbane transport network.

One estimate put the economic cost of congestion at $1.2 billion in 2005, with the figure tipped to rise to $3 billion by 2020.

"Congestion cannot be addressed solely by building more roads or road efficiency improvements," the report said.

"Instead, it requires greater emphasis on shifting travel to public transport and managing demand such as through congestion pricing or time of use pricing."

The report called on the state government to improve the quality of its South-East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program, which it described as a "wish list of projects" rather than a list of projects with committed funding and construction timelines.

While there had been big increases in spending on state-controlled and local government roads, there remained a "significant backlog".

Problems facing local governments included a lack of high quality asset management plans and a need to develop a sustainable income stream to maintain their ever-expanding road network.

The report said the Queensland government had an "ambitious" program of road projects that would cost billions of dollars, but it would need to maintain a high level of spending for this to be achieved.

Engineers Australia said the C- overall roads rating for Queensland took into account positives, such as major infrastructure projects in southeast Queensland, regional road network improvements, and improved long-term planning.

But the negatives that dragged down the score included the growing congestion problem in the southeast corner and a lack of funding for national roads in regional Queensland.

The report said inadequate spending on asset management was resulting in an ageing road network, while it also criticised a lack of funding for local roads, particularly in the mineral and resource-rich parts of Queensland.

Engineers Australia is the common name used by the Institution of Engineers Australia, which claims to have more than 90,000 professional members.

Its ratings range from A, meaning the infrastructure is fit for its current and anticipated future purposes, to D, which means poor with critical changes required. F is deemed to be inadequate.

Queensland's rail infrastructure was handed a C-, while stormwater, irrigation, electricity and gas all scored either a C or C+. Airports, potable water and wastewater infrastructure were each handed a B- whereas ports and telecommunications were marked as B.

The Local Government Association of Queensland seized on the report, saying it reinforced the need for state and federal governments to shoulder more of the burden of maintaining public assets.

"This is consistent with what we have been saying for the past two years: the cost of growth falls too often on local councils, particularly in the resource regions," president Paul Bell said.

"As the state approves more and more mining projects, councils have channelled record amounts of funding into capital projects but it is not enough to keep up."

Mike Brady, who heads Engineers Australia's Queensland Division, said the challenges in addressing the state's current and future infrastructure demands "could be rated as somewhere between considerable to highly disturbing".

The state opposition yesterday accused the government of failing to plan, build and maintain infrastructure in line with Queensland's population growth.

But Premier Anna Bligh said the government placed a high importance on infrastructure and had maintained its building program despite the global financial crisis which battered the budget.

"If we had taken the easy way out ... and walked away from our building program this report would be a thousand times worse," she told reporters.

"Our building program is keeping pace with Queensland's population and we need to keep growing it."

[ozbob]

More proof!!

[Jonno]

More proof!!

It is everywhere now!!!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Charge cars in CBD, not on bypasses

Charge cars in CBD, not on bypasses
November 17, 2010 - 3:48PM

Australia is dealing with inner-city traffic congestion in reverse gear, an engineering researcher says.

Australian governments are charging motorists to bypass congested CBDs on toll roads while traffic pours into city hearts for free, Queensland University of Technology engineering student Jake Whitehead says.

He says the model should be turned on its head. Motorists should get free use of bypass toll roads and should pay to drive in the inner-city.

Mr Whitehead spent last year at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, investigating road-tolling schemes in Europe.

He found it was now standard practice to use schemes like congestion taxes in order to discourage road use.

"Quite a few of the European government officials I met think Australia has taken the wrong approach to road pricing," Mr Whitehead said.

"Our logic is wrong because we charge people to travel on the new roads or bypasses that we want them to use, while drivers travel for free on congested inner-city routes.

"Instead, we should be looking at charging on these congested routes and using that revenue to fund or subsidise public transport and roads."

Mr Whitehead said a change in approach would significantly reduce traffic in Australia's most congested areas.

He said Stockholm's congestion charge had not only reduced traffic entering the city by up to 22 per cent, it had also reduced carbon emissions by 13 per cent in the inner city, and 2.7 per cent in greater Stockholm, a city of just under one million.

Mr Whitehead has just received the Rod McGee Medal for his research into congestion charging schemes and how they could be applied in Brisbane to ease traffic flows.

Queensland's peak motoring body, the RACQ, said Mr Whitehead's study was "a great contribution to the debate on vital road funding".

"RACQ does not believe the current road tolling system is working and often finds that it failed to relieve congestion as planned because motorists do not see value in using the tolled roads, tunnels or bridges," said Paul Turner, general manager external relations.

"Congestion tolling has some definite advantages but we would only support it if all the funds raised were put back into road funding and the inner-city congestion toll was at a reasonable level."

The RACQ support for congestion charges in the inner city is contingent on all other tolls being removed, Mr Turner said.

He said state and local governments should seriously consider Mr Whitehead's proposals.

AAP

[johnnigh]

Exactly as Professor John Quiggin (UQ Federation Fellow) argued in his little public policy textbook, back in the late 1980s. I did enjoy teaching third year Public Economics with the help of his textbook. A toll discourages users from using the tolled facility and encourages them to use the un-tolled. If the tolled facility is new, efficient and generally good for productivity, and the un-tolled are crappy old arterial roads, then charging to use the flash one is plainly stupid, but that's Finance for you.

All that has to happen is for govt (state or local) to pay the facility owner, so foolishly contracted by govt to provide it with promise of untold toll revenue, a 'shadow' toll, financed by a small part of the revenues from a worthwhile congestion charge - the balance being for PT/AT of course. NSW pays a shadow toll on some marginal Labor seat motorways that were to be tolled before the election cycle rolled by. Naturally, their reason for this is entirely spurious and there is no congestion charge anywhere in the Lucky Country (do we have a symbol for irony) .

[Stillwater]

A congestion tax is a great idea.  Because every motorist hit with a congestion tax is a voter, and angry, politicians are likely to shy away from implementing such a tax.  The technology exists to do it, just not the political will.

However, there are other ways to skin a cat.  Are not private car parking fees of $40-$50 in the inner city a defacto congestion tax?  Bring your car to the city and you will pay through the nose to park it.  Unfortunately, many private companies offer pay deals for staff that include company provided car parking spaces.

The obvious solution for pollies too squeamish to impose a congestion tax would to demand that private carparks be zoned such that a $3000-$4000 fee is applied to each parking space, that money to go to public transport improvements.  The fee would be collected in rates bills.

Also, demand that the federal government remove the fringe benefits tax concessions on 'company cars'.  Hey presto, lots of incentives for people to switch to buses and trains; and the pollies can get on their soapbox and say 'congestion tax over my dead body.'

[#Metro]

I'm thinking about this and I don't have a firm position, but a note of caution:

It is often said that the tax would "help fund public transport". But it is so easy to change that with the stroke of a pen to "help fund roads and public transport" and which is one step away from "oh well, just funding roads now".

[Golliwog]

I don't think necessarily it matters what the congestion charge is spent on, just that its there on the CBD streets. Bypass routes (Clem 7) should be free. Yes spending it on PT/AT does provide an extra benefit, but the whole point of the congestion charge isn't to improve PT/AT, its to reduce/remove congestion by discouraging people from driving on city streets. Yes they will most likely change to using PT/AT for at least some of their trip but that doesn't mean the congestion charge should go towards it.

[ozbob]

Panic lemmings  ...

Brisbanetimes --> Early peak trend citywide: RACQ

[Jonno]

I don't think necessarily it matters what the congestion charge is spent on, just that its there on the CBD streets. Bypass routes (Clem 7) should be free. Yes spending it on PT/AT does provide an extra benefit, but the whole point of the congestion charge isn't to improve PT/AT, its to reduce/remove congestion by discouraging people from driving on city streets. Yes they will most likely change to using PT/AT for at least some of their trip but that doesn't mean the congestion charge should go towards it.

Agree but the charge should be on any non-commercial trip during peak hour to reduce overall demand and to discourage people from just taking an alternative and longtime route.

[ozbob]

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
19/11/2010

Paving the way to smarter travel

A new road at Fitzgibbon Chase is set to save residents travel time and revolutionise the way locals look at commuting, said Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe.

Mr Hinchliffe and Sandgate MP Vicky Darling turned the first sod on the new $4 million road at Lavender Place - a vital local link to Carseldine Railway Station.

"This road extension could shave ten minutes off travel time to for people walking or riding to the train station," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Residents and commuters will no longer have to take risky walks along local roads, with funding from the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Urban Land Development Authority providing for a new pedestrian network with pathways for pedestrians and cyclists directly to the railway station.

"Commuters will also have new 'kiss 'n' ride' facilities and a bus stop for local bus services by June 2011."

Member for Sandgate Vicky Darling said Carseldine Railway Station is a popular destination for local commuters so the new facilities will be gratefully received.

"This is a very welcome piece of infrastructure which will hopefully encourage more locals to use public transport, since they will no longer have to walk a 'mini marathon' to get to the train," Mrs Darling said.

"The Lavender Place link, the kiss 'n' ride and bus stop will certainly provide local Taigum and Fitzgibbon residents with closer access on their side of the railway line.

"The sod turning for the Lavender Place extension also marks the start of the initial work for the new proposed Northern Busway station co-located with the railway station. This is a linchpin to the Fitzgibbon Urban Development Area's status as a transport oriented development."

ULDA CEO Paul Eagles said the Lavender Place extension is an important start to the Fitzgibbon Urban Development Area's status as an excellent example of a transport oriented development.

"The ULDA have been working closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to ensure the Northern Busway complements the planning for the Fitzgibbon UDA, guaranteeing present and future residents excellent public transport facilities," Mr Eagles said.

Due to the rarity of greenfield sites in close proximity to transport networks in Brisbane, the Fitzgibbon UDA is uniquely positioned to become a modern residential suburb based on transit oriented principles, with significant bushland and open space.

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

[ozbob]

Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
29/11/2010

Sir Leos - more than six months ahead of schedule

All 12 lanes on the new Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges spanning the Brisbane River are open to traffic, more than six months ahead of schedule, Premier Anna Bligh announced today.

The Premier said it was a major milestone, marking the end of major works as part of the $2.5 billion Gateway Corridor upgrade.

"Australia's biggest road and bridge project will double the road capacity across the Brisbane River," Ms Bligh said.

"This is congestion-busting infrastructure with six lanes north, six lanes south, delivered more than six months early."

"Three years ago we had six lanes across the river to strategic locations like the Brisbane Airport, Australia Trade Coast and Port of Brisbane but we've doubled it, making it possibly the biggest river crossing in Australia.

"Hundreds of thousands of motorists use the Sir Leo Bridges every day and many hundreds of thousands more will benefit in the future."

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said more than 90,000 LED lamps would bring the bridges to life.

"They're shaped to reflect the curves of the Brisbane River and we've hit the Christmas switch with green and red lights to mark the delivery of all 12 lanes," he said.

Some of the urban design features on the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges include:

    * Light poles and 'light sticks' on approach to the bridges, shaped to reflect the curves of the Brisbane River;
    * Terrain wave steel sculptures built at the northern and southern approaches to the bridges; and
    * A new pedestrian and cycle path on the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge with views to Moreton Bay from four viewing platforms.

Mr Wallace said the original Gateway Upgrade Project is now largely complete, with the southern extension from Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road to Miles Platting Road due for completion by mid-next year.

"Every step of the way, we delivered sections of the project as soon as they were ready so motorists could get the benefits straight away," Mr Wallace said.

"We've slashed travel times by up to 13 minutes a trip and delivered a big boost to road safety along one of the state's busiest and most important corridors."

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

[#Metro]

"This is congestion-busting infrastructure with six lanes north, six lanes south, delivered more than six months early."

"Three years ago we had six lanes across the river to strategic locations like the Brisbane Airport, Australia Trade Coast and Port of Brisbane but we've doubled it, making it possibly the biggest river crossing in Australia.

"Hundreds of thousands of motorists use the Sir Leo Bridges every day and many hundreds of thousands more will benefit in the future."

It's not congestion busting. I don't mind the Gateway Motorway so much because it is a true bypass IMHO.
Governments do not spend billions on constructing a road so that cars do not drive on it. They construct a road so that cars do drive on it- and more cars will drive on it until a level of congestion is reached that exactly cancels out the benefit created by the project in the first place. Come back in 7 years and IMHO it will be congested.

[Jonno]

7 years??? You are being very generous.  Try 1 year

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Series of accidents block major Brisbane roads in the rain

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Thousands of U2 fans stuck in traffic jam on West Gate Bridge

Oh dear ...  another planning success ...

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Lord Mayor unveils new traffic plan for Indooroopilly, but motorists doubt it will solve congestion problems

There possibility is some merit in this plan IMHO, I am not fond of roundabouts due to the difficulties they present for active transport.

A solution to congestion, probably not ...  

[somebody]

While the current system is a pain for pedestrians, other than that this seems like a solution without a problem.  I've lived not too far from there for 2.5 years, and I've never seen an accident there.  Lights will slow all the traffic down.  Seems like this is being done because of an anti-roundabout ideology, rather than any valid reason.

Certainly heading outbound the traffic congestion comes from beyond the roundabout.  I think the same applies inbound.

[Golliwog]

Courier Mail --> Lord Mayor unveils new traffic plan for Indooroopilly, but motorists doubt it will solve congestion problems

There possibility is some merit in this plan IMHO, I am not fond of roundabouts due to the difficulties they present for active transport.

A solution to congestion, probably not ...  

Yeah, its a well known fact that roundabouts are horrible for pedestrians/cyclists. IIRC the number of incidents involving them at roundabouts increases roughly 25% or there abouts.

As for congestion, given that Moggil Rd has had its traffic lights synchronised (I believe I heard that somewhere once) having a major intersection like this one as an 'uncontrolled' intersection would not help, and even if it wasn't roundabouts work best when everyone approaching the roundabout wants to turn right, which given the nature of the roundabout, certainly isn't the case in peak periods.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Traffic ban 'will bring laneway to life'

[colinw]

Ministerial statement: Premier announces Port Connect ready to go

Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Premier announces Port Connect ready to go

The contract for delivery of the $332 million upgrade of the Port of Brisbane Motorway has been awarded to the BMD Seymour Whyte Joint Venture, Premier Anna Bligh announced today.

"Site investigations and early works will start on this project, now known as Port Connect, shortly with major construction set to begin in April 2011,' said the Premier.

"The project will take just over two years with completion due in mid 2013.

"This is the final component of the State Government's $2.5 billion investment in the Gateway corridor.

"Just last month we saw the opening of 12 lanes on the Gateway Bridge, more than six months early.

"Now Port Connect is set to proceed, providing a three kilometre extension of the existing motorway and creating 780 direct and indirect jobs during construction."

The Premier said the announcement was also great news for the thousands of Queensland businesses that depend on the port to import or export goods.

"This project will eliminate the need for heavy vehicles to use Lytton Road on their way to the port, including the section known as 'rollover bend'," she said.

"As well as an extension of the motorway the project also includes a new interchange at Pritchard Street with an overpass between Lytton Road and Export Street.

"This interchange provides access to the Port of Brisbane Motorway from the local road network, as well as allowing vehicles to make local trips without having to use the motorway."

Acting Minister for Main Roads Rachel Nolan said the Port of Brisbane was the engine room of the Queensland economy.

"All indicators point to significant growth at the port in coming years, with total trade expected to jump from 32 million tonnes to 53 million tonnes by 2026 and the number of containers moved expected to triple," she said.

"Increased trade means more economic growth and that means more jobs.

"That's why this project is so important. We need to keep the port moving so it can keep the economy moving."

Minister Nolan said more detailed information about the project would be available over the coming months.

"A map of the project alignment will soon be available on the Port Connect web page and the project team will begin a comprehensive program of communication with the local community early in 2011."

Once complete, the upgraded Port of Brisbane Motorway will provide significant benefits including:

    * significantly improved reliability for freight being moved to and from the Port of Brisbane

    * support for future growth at the port

    * more appropriate road geometry for heavy vehicles

    * separating heavy, port-bound vehicles from local traffic improving safety.

[#Metro]

Dedicated freight rail link?
PT/Flexilink for the port and Australia TradeCoast?

[colinw]

Does anything run to the port on standard gauge any more?  When I've been out that way I've seen 3'6" gauge coal & containers, but haven't seen a standard gauge train on the line to the port for years.

[colinw]

Ministerial media statement: click here.

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

AIRPORT LINK'S GIANT TBM CUTTERHEADS TO BE BURIED DEEP UNDERGROUND

Premier Anna Bligh announced today that the cutterheads for the massive Tunnel Boring Machines excavating the two Airport Link tunnels from Toombul to Lutwyche will be buried underneath the tunnels they have created once their job is done later next year.

The Premier said over eight kilometres of tunnelling had been complete to date across the project.

"Combined the $45 million TBMs have travelled over a kilometre since they started tunnelling in July," the Premier said.

"The TBMs, Rocksy and Sandy, are expected to have completed their 2.5 kilometre journey in mid 2011.

"While it had been planned that the 195 metre machines would be removed from the tunnels through a specially designed extraction shaft, it has now been decided that the cutterheads and shields will be buried in two chambers nearly 50 metres underground near Felix Street, Lutwyche.

"The decision will avoid the need for approximately three months of additional surface work and is good news for people living in Lutwyche as a new shaft and work shed will no longer be constructed near Chalk Street," she said.

The Premier said as the TBMs wind down for the Christmas break, it was a good time to reflect on the many milestones reached across the projects in 2010.

·More than 60% of construction complete

·Airport Roundabout replaced and Airport Flyover eastbound lanes open for the Airport bound drivers

·More than 13.5 million hours worked

·More than 3,700 people are working across the projects.

·Over $2 billion spent

·More than 80% of all spoil excavated

·Distributed more than half a million community notices

·More than 70% of service relocations complete

·Approximately 10,000 visitors to the Information Centre at Lutwyche Centro

The Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said once the TBMs have completed tunnelling, the last 180 metres of each machine, containing the back up gantries and conveyor belts, will be removed before the front ends are concreted into the burial chambers.

"The removable elements will be taken out via the tunnel network but as the 12.48 metre cutterhead and the shield are wider than the completed tunnels built by the machines, they will remain underground," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Two burial pits of 14.5m x 14.5m x 16.5m deep will be constructed early next year."

Thiess John Holland Project Director Gordon Ralph said the machines would be disassembled next year after they break through into the caverns at Lutwyche.

"The cutterheads and shields will be disconnected from the rest of the machines and the hydraulic systems and gearboxes will be drained and capped. They will then be lowered into purpose built pits below the floor of the Airport Link tunnels to sit on pre-built cradles and be fully encased in concrete," Mr Ralph said.

"Holes will be cut into sections of the shields to ensure the complete internal and external encasement of the machine is in concrete.

"By encasing the machines in concrete, no ground water will be able to come into contact with the machine shields and cutterheads, eliminating any possible contamination."

BrisConnections CEO Dr Ray Wilson said the burial of TBM components is a practice regularly adopted by tunnelling projects in Australia and around the world.

"The two TBMs were custom built for the Airport Link project and this solution will reduce the complexity involved in removing the cutterheads, while avoiding the need for additional surface work in the Lutwyche area," Dr Wilson said.

When it opens in mid-2012 Airport Link will be the first major motorway connecting Brisbane city with the airport and northern suburbs.

It will improve travel times in a city, providing six new lanes for drivers between Bowen Hills and Kedron and four new lanes between Kedron and Toombul.

The project, which is being designed and constructed by Thiess John Holland, along with the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and the Airport Roundabout Upgrade, is part of a massive $4.8 billion infrastructure investment on Brisbane's Northside.

Airport Link TBM – Fast Facts

Model—Earth Pressure Balance
Cutterhead diameter—12.48 metres (largest machines ever used in Australia)
Weight—3,600 tonnes
Length—195 metres long, slightly longer than Suncorp Stadium playing field
Cost—$45 Million and took 12 months to build and a further 3 months to assemble at Toombul.

Cutterhead contains up to 80 x 17 inch cutters made of hardened steel
Approx. 22 workers to operate a TBM
Travels up to 55m below the surface
Equipped to install full-circle concrete tunnel lining during excavation

[#Metro]

·Over $2 billion spent

Did anyone need more airport trains after 8pm?
This is about 10 times the cost of the original construction of the Airtrain rail link.
Not sure if the cost includes the busway in that or not.

[colinw]

Apparently us sheep are supposed to believe that there is no demand to make a rail service viable after 8PM, but a 6 lane underground motorway to the airport will somehow make massive profits.  Airport Link is going to follow Clem7 into bankruptcy.  I give it 18 months from opening.

[#Metro]

Set the Airtrain cost = the cost of the Airport Link toll, which would be about $4.00 or so AIUI, watch demand go through the roof.

[mufreight]

Apparently us sheep are supposed to believe that there is no demand to make a rail service viable after 8PM, but a 6 lane underground motorway to the airport will somehow make massive profits.  Airport Link is going to follow Clem7 into bankruptcy.  I give it 18 months from opening.

Gee you are optimistic, I would think that they will be in trouble within the first six months.