Budget bridges Brisbane’s future

Traffic flow, public transport and cycle ways are the focus of a record $5.53 billion State Budget investment in Brisbane.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas said the 2007-08 Budget will improve connections between Brisbane and neighbouring cities with massive spending on major roads and transport.

“Queensland’s single biggest road and bridge project, the Gateway Bridge duplication, receives the lions share.

“We’ve injected $691.2 million in this year’s budget to start work on the bridge and the upgrade of 20 kilometres of the motorway between Nudgee Road and the Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road.

“In total, the Gateway Bridge duplication will cost $1.88 billion but will make an enormous difference to traffic flow across the metropolitan area and improve vital freight links.”

Mr Lucas said construction will also start in early 2008 on a new bridge to the Redcliffe Peninsular.

“This budget allocates $55 million dollars to get moving on the duplication of the Houghton Highway.

“Costing $315 million in total, the Houghton Highway project will double traffic capacity on the primary Redcliffe link.

“For Greater West there’s a total of $384.5 million in Federal funding in the Queensland budget to address increasing demands on the Ipswich Motorway.

“We’ll be building extra lanes and addressing interchange bottlenecks to reduce congestion on the vital Brisbane – Ipswich connector.

“This includes a $100 million down payment for the federally-funded Goodna Bypass.”

Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government is continuing its unprecedented investment in public transport infrastructure and services.

"In the three years since TransLink was established, public transport patronage has surged to records levels.

“This budget puts in place the funding to ensure the Beattie Government can continue to meet the demand for fast and efficient public transport.

"It starts with $414.8 million for work on extending Brisbane’s revolutionary busway network.

“On top of that we’ll spend $485.4 million for more Citytrain lines and the rollout of new Citytrain carriage sets.

“Not only are we investing in more infrastructure and carriages, we’ve allocated $16 million for the rollout of TransLink’s Smart Card ticket system to make it even easier to use public transport in the South East.

“And with growing concern over climate change, this Budget injects $22.4 million for the extension of the region’s cycling network.”

Mr Lucas said the Budget included $212.6 million for the Port of Brisbane, including construction of more berths at Fisherman Islands to meet the port’s stellar trade growth.

"This budget builds the vital infrastructure needed to underpin the Queensland’s vibrant economy.

“It keeps the wheels moving for the future, while also protecting our unique lifestyle.”

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads has also revealed the greater metropolitan area would receive a $4.3 billion share of the Roads Implementation Program’s (RIP) record $13.3 billion in funding over five years.

Media contact: Robert Hoge 3237 1942 or
Darren Roberts 3237 1947

Highlights include

• $691.2 million to continue the $1.88 billion Gateway Bridge duplication and upgrading of 20 kilometres of the motorway between Mt Gravatt-Capalaba and Nudgee Roads.
• $384.5 million for improvements to the Ipswich Motorway, including $163.5 million to begin upgrading the motorway to six lanes between Wacol and Darra and reconstructing the Centenary Highway Interchange; $121 million to continue upgrading the Gailes Interchange; and $100 million towards the $2.3 billion six-lane Goodna Bypass from Dinmore to the Logan Motorway at Gailes.
• $274.8 million for upgrades and track duplications on the Citytrain network, including Salisbury to Kuraby and Mitchelton to Keperra.
• $212.6 million for continued development at the Port of Brisbane, including redevelopment of the Hamilton site and construction of more berths at Fisherman Islands to accommodate the strong growth in trade.
• $134.4 million to continue the extension of the Centenary Highway from Springfield to Yamanto.
• $129 million to complete the $333 million Inner Northern Busway extension from Queen Street underground to Roma Street and linking with the existing busway at Countess Street, with new busway stations under King George Square and at the Roma Street Transit Centre.
• $104.6 million for new Citytrains to provide more services between Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
• $103.3 million to commence construction of the Northern Busway from the Royal Children's Hospital to Kedron Brook.
• $85.8 million towards planning and construction of the Eastern Busway (Boggo Road Busway) from the Eleanor Schonell Bridge to the Boggo Road Precinct and Princess Alexandra Hospital, with new busway stations at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Park Road Citytrain station
• $70 million over four years to provide public transport service improvements to address growth in passenger demand.
• $77 million in 2007-08 for design and early works on the new railway track to Springfield, and $57.2 million for the planning and early works for the associated widening of the Centenary Highway from the Ipswich Motorway to Springfield.
• $58.2 million to commence construction of an overpass at Acacia Ridge to take the Mt Lindesay Highway over the main interstate railway line, eliminating the congested level crossing.
• $55 million to commence construction of the Houghton Highway duplication between Brighton and Clontarf.
• $50 million to continue planning and construction of the Eastern Busway: Princess Alexandra Hospital to Buranda. Construction will include an elevated busway station within the Princess Alexandra Hospital and will be a key link in the regional busway network.
• $46.7 million towards planning and construction of the Eastern Busway from Buranda to Capalaba.
• $35 million to commence the extension to four lanes of the Mt Lindesay Highway between Green and Rosia roads at Park Ridge in Logan City.
• $32.8 million for improvements to bus infrastructure, including bus stops and shelters, across South East Queensland.
• $25 million in 2007-08 for planning and design works on the third railway track between Corinda and Darra.
• $22.4 million for a major upgrade and modernisation of Brunswick Street Station, the third busiest Citytrain station in the network.
• $22.4 million to continue development of the cycling network in South East Queensland including $5 million to complete the Normanby Cycleway, linking Normanby to the Roma Street Parklands.
• $16 million to continue development of the new TransLink Integrated Ticketing System, using Smart Card technology.
• $14.2 million to complete the upgrading to four lanes of Moggill Road west of Kenmore.
• $15 million to increase the freight carrying capacity of the Citytrain network.
• $12.5 million to complete the $43 million Boundary/Keliher Roads underpass, removing a notorious traffic bottleneck.
• $12.1 million to improve wheelchair access to trains and Citytrain stations.
• $10.9 million to upgrade Citytrain railway tracks to minimum maintenance standard.
• $3.6 million to upgrade the Citytrain electrification system.
• $3.7 million to upgrade Citytrain stations, including improved shelter and lighting for passengers.
• $1.2 million to install noise barriers along the Citytrain network.