Possible Traffic Problems Mon 30th July - Riverside Expressway could be closed

[Mozz]

Just heard a snippet on the channel 7 news that the maintenance work on the riverside expressway southbound are still continuing and may not be finished by tomorrow morning. I did some googling and searching but could only come up with this TMR site and while it looks like it is suppose to advise of traffic issues, it doesn't mention anything as at 1825hrs.

http://highload.131940.qld.gov.au/

Advice about the closure:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/latest/14381719/riverside-expressway-to-close-southbound/

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
29/07/2012

Riverside Expressway - Ministerial Media Statement

Late this afternoon I was advised the Hydraulic Jacks, which are used to lift sections of the deck to conduct maintenance works on the Riverside Expressway, malfunctioned.

The team will be working through the night to fix the Hydraulic Jacks however I am advised by the head of engineering that there is a chance the deck may not be in place by 5am.

Contingency plans are on stand by and all motorists travelling to the CBD on Monday morning are advised to listen to their local radio station before they leave home.

Motorists can also check the TMR website www.tmr.qld.gov.au or public transport options will be available on www.translink.com.au

[Mozz]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/morning-peak-hour-traffic-alert-after-riverside-expressway-hydraulic-jacks-malfunction/story-e6freoof-1226437989978

TRAFFIC contingency plans are "on stand by" for all motorists travelling to the CBD on Monday morning, after hydraulic jacks on the Riverside Expressway malfunctioned on Sunday afternoon.

In a statement released on Sunday night by Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson, he said there was a chance the Riverside Expressway would not be ready by 5am Monday.

The hydraulic jacks that malfunctioned are used to lift sections of the surface to conduct maintenance works on the Riverside Expressway.

"The team will be working through the night to fix the Hydraulic Jacks, however I am advised by the head of engineering that there is a chance the deck may not be in place by 5am," Mr Emerson said.

"Contingency plans are on stand by and all motorists travelling to the CBD on Monday morning are advised to listen to their local radio station before they leave home."

Motorists can also check the TMR website www.tmr.qld.gov.au or public transport options will be available on www.translink.com.au.

[ozbob]

Memories, memories ...  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=81.0

Media Release 17th October 2006
Bridge cracks expose cracks in Brisbane transport options.

RAIL  Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has suggested the chaos arising in Brisbane this evening from closure of the Riverside expressway,  is just a sample of  regular road congestion and gridlock that is Brisbane?s future unless real improvements are made in public transport solutions.

Robert Dow said that

"The closure of one major road route has caused traffic chaos in Brisbane.  This highlights the fragility of the present traffic and public transport bus systems. Brisbane CBD is in virtual gridlock as I speak.  Rail continues to provide safe, rapid mass transport during this crisis."

"Now is the time to expand the rail and bus networks.  It is clear the present path of toll roads, tunnels and road bridges is just making more problems rather than solutions."

"The railway line to Brisbane Airport should be taken over by the State Government and fares and frequency of services brought into line with the rest of the suburban Brisbane railway network immediately.  This has the potential to ease traffic on the already congested roads to and from the airport in particular.  The present fare structure is out of reach of many travellers and workers in the airport precinct."

Contact:

admin@backontrack.org 
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

29th July 2012

Memories, memories ...

Greetings,

The possible closure of Riverside expressway tomorrow if maintenance can not be completed in time due to the jack issues is just a repeat of a similar incident in 2006.

Remember the cracks that closed the Riverside expressway in 2006? Transport chaos ensued.

Memories, memories ...  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=81.0

Media Release 17th October 2006
    Bridge cracks expose cracks in Brisbane transport options.

    RAIL  Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has suggested the chaos arising in Brisbane this evening from closure of the Riverside expressway,  is just a sample of  regular road congestion and gridlock that is Brisbane's future unless real improvements are made in public transport solutions.

    Robert Dow said that

    "The closure of one major road route has caused traffic chaos in Brisbane.  This highlights the fragility of the present traffic and public transport bus systems. Brisbane CBD is in virtual gridlock as I speak.  Rail continues to provide safe, rapid mass transport during this crisis."

    "Now is the time to expand the rail and bus networks.  It is clear the present path of toll roads, tunnels and road bridges is just making more problems rather than solutions."

    "The railway line to Brisbane Airport should be taken over by the State Government and fares and frequency of services brought into line with the rest of the suburban Brisbane railway network immediately.  This has the potential to ease traffic on the already congested roads to and from the airport in particular.  The present fare structure is out of reach of many travellers and workers in the airport precinct."

    Contact:

    admin@backontrack.org
    Administration
    RAIL Back On Track

    http://backontrack.org

We have really have not too come far down the improved transport path, have we?  LOL

Let's hope the jacks are fixed and work completed, otherwise it will not be pretty at all.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1343552209

Riverside Expressway - possible service disruption

Last updated: 7.38pm Sunday 29 July 2012

Due to a malfunction of the hydraulic jacks, which are being used to lift sections of the deck to conduct maintenance works on the Riverside Expressway, it is possible that the Expressway will not be open by 5am Monday morning as planned.

While every effort is being made to correct the malfunction, work is also underway to develop alternative transport options if sections of the Expressway are unavailable for public transport services.

We will keep this site updated as more information becomes available.

Affected services:

    105
    112
    172
    202
    340
    P88

[Mr X]

Went for a drive through Clem 7 and AL. Clem 7 was pretty busy going northbound, more traffic than usual (mainly because it's free but the closure does make a difference).

Coming back, traffic was hideous along Coronation Drive into North Quay and to help flow, access from Skew St (?) to North Quay was closed off. Merivale and Grey Sts were clogged up too, as was Vulture. This was a Sunday afternoon!!

Expect mayhem tomorrow if the expressway is still closed for AM peak.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Engineers hopeful Riverside Expressway will open in time for Monday peak hour traffic after hydraulic jacks failed

Engineers hopeful Riverside Expressway will open in time for Monday peak hour traffic after hydraulic jacks failed

    by: Kate McKenna
    From: The Courier-Mail
    July 29, 2012 9:30PM

ENGINEERS are hopeful that Brisbane's Riverside Expressway will re-open in time for the morning peak-hour rush after hydraulic jacks malfunctioned on Sunday.

At 9pm on Sunday, a spokesman for Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson said that maintenance work had been able to resume and that the 5am deadline now "looked likely".

"This afternoon, the (hydraulic) jacks weren't able to be restarted, which caused some concern that work would run overtime, but they are operating now," he said.

Earlier, traffic contingency plans were "on stand by" for all motorists travelling through the CBD Monday morning, with drivers warned to check traffic alerts before leaving home or consider using public transport.

The southbound lanes of the expressway had been closed since 9pm on Friday for maintenance as engineers replaced old pot bearings under the deck with new stainless steel pot bearings.

It was due to re-open at 5am on Monday, but a statement released on Sunday night by Minister for Transport and Main Roads Scott Emerson announced the pre-peak hour opening could be in doubt.

"The team will be working through the night to fix the hydraulic jacks however I am advised by the head of engineering that there is a chance the deck may not be in place by 5am," Mr Emerson said.

"Contingency plans are on stand by and all motorists travelling to the CBD on Monday morning are advised to listen to their local radio station before they leave home."

The hydraulic jacks that malfunctioned are being used to lift up sections of the surface to conduct maintenance works on the Riverside Expressway

Motorists can also check the TMR website www.tmr.qld.gov.au or public transport options will be available on www.translink.com.au.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Works delay may cause expressway chaos

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1343552209

Riverside Expressway - possible service disruption

Last updated: 11.33pm Sunday 29 July 2012

Due to a malfunction of the hydraulic jacks, which are being used to lift sections of the deck to conduct maintenance works on the Riverside Expressway, it is possible that the Expressway will not be open by 5am Monday morning as planned.

While every effort is being made to correct the malfunction, work is also underway to develop alternative transport options if sections of the Expressway are unavailable for public transport services.

Additional train services will be running Monday morning as follows:

    6.28am Central to Lota - express Murarrie to Manly
    6.34am Central to Manly - all stations
    6.56am Central to Beenleigh - express Kuraby to Beenleigh
    7.10am Central to Kuraby - all stations (service starts from Bowen Hills station)
    7.26am Central to Yeerongpilly - all stations
    8.04am Central to Yeerongpilly - all stations
    8.14am Central to Yeerongpilly - all stations
    8.29am Central to Yeerongpilly - all stations
    8.42am Central to Yeerongpilly - all stations

We will keep this site updated as more information becomes available.

Affected services:

    105
    112
    172
    202
    340
    P88

[ozbob]

Traffic travel information --> http://highload.131940.qld.gov.au/

[ozbob]

Twitter

Spencer Howson ‏@SpencerHowson

Electronic signs on Moggill Rd and Coro Dve say Riverside Expressway southbound still closed. Transport/Main Rds minister on 612 B/fast.

[ozbob]

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1343552209

Riverside Expressway

All lanes of the Riverside Expressway will be open this morning from 5am.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
30/07/2012

Riverside Expressway reopens on time - Ministerial Media Statement

Engineers working under the southbound lanes of the Riverside Expressway were able to resume work lowering the deck overnight and reopen the lanes to traffic at about 5am today.

This was a good outcome from crews after the hydraulic jacks failed to re-start on Sunday afternoon.

The deck was raised to replace the pot bearings which are almost 40 years old.

The pot bearings will now be examined before deciding whether to replace them on other spans.

Motorists are thanked for their patience during the weekend work.

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane radio Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Click --> here!

Riverside Expressway reopens, allaying fears of peak hour gridlock

Riverside Expressway reopens, allaying fears of peak hour gridlock

30 July 2012 , 8:06 AM by Spencer Howson

The Riverside Expressway (M3) has reopened southbound between Margaret and Alice Streets, allaying fears of peakhour gridlock.

As you know, there have been roadworks over a couple of weekends but they weren't meant to run into a weekday morning and for a while yesterday, that appeared inevitable.

Transport and Main Roads minister Scott Emerson explains what happened on the weekend and why test results could mean a two-year staged closure of the road: