Traffic plan for work on Riverside Expressway

Cars and buses will return to the Ann and Alice Street ramps from today as Main Roads prepares to restore the Riverside Expressway to full capacity.

The Ann and Alice Street ramps have been closed since October 17 when a hairline crack was observed on the Ann Street ramp.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said that following advice from Main Roads, the ramps would re-open to buses and light traffic as soon as traffic-management arrangements could be put in place.

“This afternoon I have been briefed on the inspections and analysis by Main Roads Director-General Alan Tesch and Main Roads chief engineer Ian Reeves,” Mr Lucas said.

“They have assured me it is safe to open the on-ramps at Ann and Alice streets, with 20km/h limits imposed to manage wear and tear until repairs are carried out.

“While buses will be allowed to use these ramps, heavy trucks will not. Again, this is not because of safety concerns but to help Main Roads manage wear and tear.

“The Director-General and chief engineer also outlined plans to limit the use of Elizabeth Street offramp (from the western suburbs) while engineers continued computer modelling of the system of bridges and ramps.

“Around 11,000 vehicles a day use the Ann and Alice street ramps that we closed. Opening them takes the significant majority of those vehicles off George Street and puts them back onto the Expressway,” Mr Lucas said.

The reopening is the next stage of the plan to restore the Riverside Expressway to full capacity. Other elements included:

• Opening Ann and Alice Street ramps to light vehicles and buses today, and placing truck restrictions on the Elizabeth Street southbound ramp from today, to reduce wear and tear on the ramps
• Staged half-day closures this weekend of ramps at Margaret Street, Elizabeth Street (from the southern and eastern suburbs) and Turbot Street for further analysis.
• Final advice on the nature and length of time needed to do repair work on the ramps. This was expected by Christmas.
• An ongoing program of maintenance and rehabilitation works, to be completed in stages over the next six months.

Mr Lucas said closures for investigation and work would be restricted to after 9pm wherever possible.

Main Roads chief engineer Ian Reeves said inspections had shown the general condition of the Riverside Expressway – the decks, the piers and girders – was excellent.

“The concrete is in excellent condition, the ramps require some repairs and the bearings are also in good working order,” he said.

“We are now able to say that the crack on the Ann Street ramp has no significant effect on the structural performance of the ramp.

“During the closure Main Roads took the opportunity to bring forward repair work by resetting a restraint bearing on the Ann St abutment with George St.”

Mr Reeves said inspections and analysis conducted since the closure last week showed that all ramps were completely safe.

“These ramps are safe. It is a question of whether the heavier traffic might cause some additional wear and tear, which means ramps could require maintenance work earlier.”

Mr Reeves said inspection showed the south-bound Elizabeth Street ramp was rotating less than the Ann and Alice street ramps but had a problem with a separate bearing that required rehabilitation.

“Main Roads will also take the opportunity to bring forward the repair of this separate bearing ahead of its scheduled rehabilitation.

“The Elizabeth St ramp limits we’re putting in place are not to do with safety. We are imposing these restrictions to prevent wear and tear until repairs are completed.”

“That means restrictions in place on heavy vehicles – over 14 tonnes – on the three ramps.”

Mr Reeves said the Margaret Street, Elizabeth Street (northbound) and Turbot Street ramps had been inspected and were safe but more detailed inspections would be carried out this weekend to determine what further maintenance may be needed.

Mr Lucas said this would mean some staged half-day closures of these ramps over the weekend.

“I apologise to motorists for these interruptions, but we are making every effort to get the work completed as quickly as possible,'' he said.

“I appreciate how motorists have adapted. I want to thank Brisbane City Council, TransLink and Queensland Police for their help in managing the city's traffic in the past week. I always said that I would not re-open the ramps until I was satisfied that they were safe for drivers.”

Media inquiries:

Robert Hoge 3237 1942, 0419 757 868