Published Friday, 01 December, 2006 at 10:39 AM

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas

$1.1 billion funding bonanza for Brisbane Roads

Brisbane and surrounding areas will receive $1.1 billion for roads over the next two years as part of a record $11.55 billion roads program for Queensland.

The latest Roads Implementation Program, launched by Premier Peter Beattie and Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas, boosts roads spending in Queensland by more than $1 billion over the next five years.

Mr Lucas said a record $11.55 billion would be spent on the state’s roads from 2006-07 to 2010-11 – a $1.05 billion or 10% increase on the previous five-year program.

The program details almost 2500 road projects that will be constructed around the state over the next five years.

“We are committed to delivering the projects that make our roads safer and help meet the needs of a growing state,” Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said the program continued a record funding boost for the Brisbane Metropolitan area.

“All up, the State and Federal governments will provide a total of more than $1.1 billion for roads in the Brisbane metropolitan area over the next two years.”

The Brisbane region, which takes in the local government areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redland, PineRivers and Redcliffe, is a major beneficiary of the State Government's South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program (SEQIPP) and other key Beattie Government initiatives.

Major projects to be funded this financial year and in 2007-08 include:

  • $106 million towards a new two-lane arterial road from Springfield to Yamanto to service new growth areas in Ipswich City. Construction is expected to start soon, for completion by mid 2009
  • $34 million to start work on a $90.2 million project to rebuild the Mt Lindesay Highway to four-lane standard south from Green Road/Fedrick Street to Rosia Road, Park Ridge in Logan City. Construction of this section is expected to start in early 2007 for completion by mid-2009.
  • $217 million in Federal Government funding towards widening the Ipswich Motorway to six lanes from Wacol to Darra
  • $185 million in federal funding towards the $255 million Logan Motorway interchange project on the Ipswich Motorway at Gailes. Major construction is expected to start soon, for completion in 2009-10

In addition, Queensland Motorways Limited (QML) will undertake the $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project.

Other key projects funded over the next two years include:

  • On Redland Bay Road, $11.7 million will complete a $15.4 million project to duplicate the road from two to four lanes from Vienna to Boundary roads. This project is expected to be completed in 2007-08
  • On Boundary Road, $15.6 million will complete a $18.5 million project to construct four lanes from Panorama Drive to Cleveland-Redland Bay Road.
  • $3.5 million will complete work on an $8.4 million project to upgrade Beenleigh-Redland Bay Road to four lanes at Loganholme. Construction is underway and is due for completion in early 2007
  • $15.5 million will complete a $29 million project to four-lane Moggill Road, Kenmore from Kilkivan Avenue to Pullenvale Road with construction expected to be finished in 2007-08.
  • Projects under the Safer Roads Sooner program as part of a targeted road safety initiative to target black spots on state-controlled roads include:
  • $1 million to install guardrail, improve driver visibility and signage on Samford-Mt Glorious Road
  • $2 million to remove roadside hazards, install guard rail and advisory speed signs and improve visibility on a 13km section of Mt Cotton Road
  • Capital financial assistance grants to be provided to Brisbane City Council for local road upgrades under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) program include:
  • $25 million to complete a $43 million Alliance Project with Brisbane City Council, to construct an underpass at Boundary Road to connect Kelliher and Garden Roads at Darra, to ease congestion and improve traffic safety.
  • $3.4 million to Brisbane City Council to complete an $8.4 million project to extend Balham Road to Beatty Road at Archerfield, as recommended in the Brisbane Urban Corridor Study. The state and Brisbane City Council are each meeting half the project cost.

Key bikeway improvements:

  • $2.2 million towards a $5.9 million bikeway adjacent to the Pacific Motorway in Brisbane City and $4 million to continue a $6 million bikeway between Logan Road and the Logan River in Logan City. These works complement the V1 bikeway adjacent to the Pacific Motorway in Gold Coast City.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942