MAJOR MILESTONE FOR SECOND GATEWAY BRIDGE
Published Monday, 18 September, 2006 at 02:04 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
Premier Peter Beattie announced today the successful tenderer to undertake the $1.88 billion Gateway Bridge duplication and motorway upgrade.
Mr Beattie said construction work would begin on the upgrade by the end of the year following a decision this morning that a Leighton Abigroup joint venture had been chosen as the preferred tenderer to deliver the project.
Works will include building a new Gateway Bridge 50 metres east of the existing bridge and upgrading 20 kilometres of the Gateway Motorway between Mount Gravatt and Nudgee.
“We are getting on with the job of delivering the infrastructure we need to meet the needs of a growing state,” Mr Beattie said.
“It will create more than 5000 jobs during the four-and-a-half year construction period, with an estimated flow-on effect into the local economy of $450 million in wages and salaries.
“In addition, the project is also critical in supporting the continued growth of Australia TradeCoast, which contributes more than $4.3 billion annually to the economy and generates 5% of total employment for the Brisbane area.”
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh said the decision showed the Government’s commitment to delivering vital transport infrastructure projects.
“Under the South East Infrastructure Plan and Program almost $28 billion out of the $66 billion in infrastructure spending will be for road and transport projects,” Ms Bligh said.
“And over the next three years motorists and public transport users will see a number of vital projects delivered and substantial progress on numerous others.
“As well as the Gateway Upgrade, we are delivering the Tugun Bypass, a duplicated Houghton Highway and major work on further duplication of the Sunshine Motorway.
“Work is already underway on the Inner Northern Busway in the Brisbane CBD and over the next few years people will see bulldozers at work on the Boggo Rd Busway and the Eastern and Northern busways.”
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today was the result of years of planning that would deliver real benefits for motorists.
“The project will be delivered by Queensland Motorways Limited through its contract with the Leighton Abigroup joint venture and it will be a major boost for South East Queensland drivers,” Mr Lucas said.
“It has the potential to reduce travel times from Rochedale to Brisbane Airport, by about 15 minutes, and Caboolture to the Port of Brisbane, by about 10 minutes during peak periods.
“We have already kicked off on an early works program, improving the Wynnum Road/Gateway Motorway intersection upgrade at Tingalpa.”
Mr Lucas said the cost increase from the original estimate of $1.64 billion included funding for extra road works and improved design.
“The extra money we’re investing will mean we can include a new on-ramp and a new off-ramp to Kingsford Smith Drive at Eagle Farm.
“We will also be extending the existing motorway 600 metres to the Nudgee Rd interchange to provide an extra southbound lane.”
Mr Lucas said the extra funds would also mean the bridge over Airport Drive on the new northern motorway deviation would be built to a width that could accommodate six lanes of traffic in the future.
He said when complete the existing bridge will carry six lanes of traffic north and the new bridge will carry six lanes of traffic south.
The new Gateway Bridge will also includes a 4.25 metre wide shared pedestrian and cycle facility on its eastern side and full electronic tolling.
Mr Lucas said after considering a number of delivery methods, the State Government last year decided the government-financed option was the best value for money.
“The Government is funding the project because it is best placed to do so. The private sector will design and build the upgrade and bring its expertise and innovation to the job as a result of the design,” he said.
“The Leighton Abigroup joint venture brings a wealth of experience to the job, including work on the $1.5 billion Westlink M7 freeway in Sydney.
“To help meet the cost of the project, tolling on both the new and existing bridges will continue for 30 years after the works are completed.”
In 2011, the toll on a car toll is expected to be $3.10.
Mr Lucas again criticised the Federal Government for not contributing funding to the upgrade.
“If Canberra met its responsibility for the road part of the upgrade then the toll level would be $2.20 in 2011 and remain at that level.”
The upgrade will also include state-of-the-art Intelligent Transport Systems that will use technology to provide real time traffic management. This will include closed circuit television and vehicle detection systems that will monitor motorway traffic conditions, change variable message signs and vary speed limits.
18 September, 2006
Media inquiries: Office of the Premier (07) 3224 4500
Office of the Minister for Transport (07) 3237 1942
GATEWAY UPGRADE PROJECT FACT SHEET
Total cost: $1.88 billion
Successful tenderer: Leighton Abigroup joint venture
Key sections of the project will be opened as they are completed, to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. These major milestones include:
• Wynnum Road/Gateway Motorway intersection upgrade at Tingalpa - by mid 2007 (a $10.5 million separate works contract that is early works for the Gateway Upgrade Project)
• Wynnum Road to Lytton Road - open two additional southbound lanes - by late 2007.
• Northern deviation - open two lanes northbound and two lanes southbound and provide second access to airport - by early/mid 2009
• Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road to Wynnum Road - all six lanes open - by late 2009.
• Duplicate Gateway Upgrade open - by late 2010.
• Refurbishing existing Gateway Bridge - by 2011.
Construction will commence in late 2006 and be completed by 2011.
Mr Beattie said construction work would begin on the upgrade by the end of the year following a decision this morning that a Leighton Abigroup joint venture had been chosen as the preferred tenderer to deliver the project.
Works will include building a new Gateway Bridge 50 metres east of the existing bridge and upgrading 20 kilometres of the Gateway Motorway between Mount Gravatt and Nudgee.
“We are getting on with the job of delivering the infrastructure we need to meet the needs of a growing state,” Mr Beattie said.
“It will create more than 5000 jobs during the four-and-a-half year construction period, with an estimated flow-on effect into the local economy of $450 million in wages and salaries.
“In addition, the project is also critical in supporting the continued growth of Australia TradeCoast, which contributes more than $4.3 billion annually to the economy and generates 5% of total employment for the Brisbane area.”
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh said the decision showed the Government’s commitment to delivering vital transport infrastructure projects.
“Under the South East Infrastructure Plan and Program almost $28 billion out of the $66 billion in infrastructure spending will be for road and transport projects,” Ms Bligh said.
“And over the next three years motorists and public transport users will see a number of vital projects delivered and substantial progress on numerous others.
“As well as the Gateway Upgrade, we are delivering the Tugun Bypass, a duplicated Houghton Highway and major work on further duplication of the Sunshine Motorway.
“Work is already underway on the Inner Northern Busway in the Brisbane CBD and over the next few years people will see bulldozers at work on the Boggo Rd Busway and the Eastern and Northern busways.”
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today was the result of years of planning that would deliver real benefits for motorists.
“The project will be delivered by Queensland Motorways Limited through its contract with the Leighton Abigroup joint venture and it will be a major boost for South East Queensland drivers,” Mr Lucas said.
“It has the potential to reduce travel times from Rochedale to Brisbane Airport, by about 15 minutes, and Caboolture to the Port of Brisbane, by about 10 minutes during peak periods.
“We have already kicked off on an early works program, improving the Wynnum Road/Gateway Motorway intersection upgrade at Tingalpa.”
Mr Lucas said the cost increase from the original estimate of $1.64 billion included funding for extra road works and improved design.
“The extra money we’re investing will mean we can include a new on-ramp and a new off-ramp to Kingsford Smith Drive at Eagle Farm.
“We will also be extending the existing motorway 600 metres to the Nudgee Rd interchange to provide an extra southbound lane.”
Mr Lucas said the extra funds would also mean the bridge over Airport Drive on the new northern motorway deviation would be built to a width that could accommodate six lanes of traffic in the future.
He said when complete the existing bridge will carry six lanes of traffic north and the new bridge will carry six lanes of traffic south.
The new Gateway Bridge will also includes a 4.25 metre wide shared pedestrian and cycle facility on its eastern side and full electronic tolling.
Mr Lucas said after considering a number of delivery methods, the State Government last year decided the government-financed option was the best value for money.
“The Government is funding the project because it is best placed to do so. The private sector will design and build the upgrade and bring its expertise and innovation to the job as a result of the design,” he said.
“The Leighton Abigroup joint venture brings a wealth of experience to the job, including work on the $1.5 billion Westlink M7 freeway in Sydney.
“To help meet the cost of the project, tolling on both the new and existing bridges will continue for 30 years after the works are completed.”
In 2011, the toll on a car toll is expected to be $3.10.
Mr Lucas again criticised the Federal Government for not contributing funding to the upgrade.
“If Canberra met its responsibility for the road part of the upgrade then the toll level would be $2.20 in 2011 and remain at that level.”
The upgrade will also include state-of-the-art Intelligent Transport Systems that will use technology to provide real time traffic management. This will include closed circuit television and vehicle detection systems that will monitor motorway traffic conditions, change variable message signs and vary speed limits.
18 September, 2006
Media inquiries: Office of the Premier (07) 3224 4500
Office of the Minister for Transport (07) 3237 1942
GATEWAY UPGRADE PROJECT FACT SHEET
Total cost: $1.88 billion
Successful tenderer: Leighton Abigroup joint venture
Key sections of the project will be opened as they are completed, to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. These major milestones include:
• Wynnum Road/Gateway Motorway intersection upgrade at Tingalpa - by mid 2007 (a $10.5 million separate works contract that is early works for the Gateway Upgrade Project)
• Wynnum Road to Lytton Road - open two additional southbound lanes - by late 2007.
• Northern deviation - open two lanes northbound and two lanes southbound and provide second access to airport - by early/mid 2009
• Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road to Wynnum Road - all six lanes open - by late 2009.
• Duplicate Gateway Upgrade open - by late 2010.
• Refurbishing existing Gateway Bridge - by 2011.
Construction will commence in late 2006 and be completed by 2011.