RICHLANDS UPGRADE OPENS EARLY
Published Friday, 17 August, 2007 at 03:06 PM
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
A MAJOR traffic bottleneck in Brisbane’s southwest has been consigned to history with the opening of the $40.6 million Boundary-Kelliher Road upgrade at Richlands.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, today officially opened the upgrade to motorists more than two months ahead of schedule.
“This missing link joins two previously disconnected sections of the Centenary Highway,” Mr Lucas said.
“It means extra congestion easing road capacity with four lanes from the Ipswich Motorway roundabout to the Garden Road ramps at Richlands.
“No longer will Springfield-bound motorists be queuing at the junction of Kelliher and Boundary Roads.”
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the road opening fulfilled his election commitment and was a “great example of what happens when governments work together”.
“This vital infrastructure is what we need to ease traffic congestion and get Brisbane moving,” he said.
“It was built by the Brisbane City Council and private construction and engineering companies with the bulk of the financial support from the State Government.”
Mr Lucas said the intersection and its notorious set of traffic lights had been eliminated as part of the construction of the missing link and its Boundary Road overpass.
“It could save up to 15 minutes during peak travel times for the estimated 30,000 drivers who use this section of road daily. This is a big time saving – potentially shaving more than two hours from a motorist’s working week.
Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government had provided more than $30 million of the cost of the Boundary/Kelliher road upgrade, which has been delivered in partnership with Brisbane City Council, who provided the remainder of funding.
“But innovative alliance contracting and the drought have helped bring this vital project across the finish line under time and under budget.
“We’ve saved two months and about $2 million,” he said.
Councillor Newman said the four-lane project was delivered ahead of time and under budget.
“This project has been delivered efficiently and collaboratively by Centenary Link Alliance, a project team involving Council, Main Roads and private engineering and construction companies Bielby Holdings, JF Hull Holdings and Bornhorst + Ward,” he said.
“It has taken years of planning to design and construct the new section of Centenary Highway, an overpass at Boundary Road, two highway access roads, drainage works and a range of local road improvements.
“It was not only delivered swiftly and under budget, but with many innovations. The Boundary Road overpass was constructed from the top down so electricity, telecommunications and gas services could be efficiently moved from the old road reserve into the bridge deck.”
Mr Lucas said the Boundary/ Kelliher upgrade was part of a much bigger package of road and public transport improvements for Brisbane’s greater west.
“This upgrade at Boundary/ Kelliher Road has been constructed with rail in mind. $10 million of the cost of the project has gone into building an additional span of the Boundary Road overpass and a large retaining wall.
“It allows the train line to be added for the future Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor with minimal impact on road traffic.
"Over the next year, the Queensland Government will spend more than $130 million on planning for improvements to the Centenary Highway between Richlands and Springfield, as well as the rail line. But it doesn’t stop there.
"Work is already underway on the $366 million Centenary Highway extension from Springfield to the Cunningham Highway at Yamanto, which is due to open by the end of 2009.
“We’re ahead of the game and putting in place the transport infrastructure to support what will be the nation’s growth corridor,” Mr Lucas said.
Media inquiries:
Transport Minister’s office: Robert Hoge 3237 1942
Lord Mayor’s office: Nicky Haydon 0437 831 581 or 3403 4832.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, today officially opened the upgrade to motorists more than two months ahead of schedule.
“This missing link joins two previously disconnected sections of the Centenary Highway,” Mr Lucas said.
“It means extra congestion easing road capacity with four lanes from the Ipswich Motorway roundabout to the Garden Road ramps at Richlands.
“No longer will Springfield-bound motorists be queuing at the junction of Kelliher and Boundary Roads.”
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the road opening fulfilled his election commitment and was a “great example of what happens when governments work together”.
“This vital infrastructure is what we need to ease traffic congestion and get Brisbane moving,” he said.
“It was built by the Brisbane City Council and private construction and engineering companies with the bulk of the financial support from the State Government.”
Mr Lucas said the intersection and its notorious set of traffic lights had been eliminated as part of the construction of the missing link and its Boundary Road overpass.
“It could save up to 15 minutes during peak travel times for the estimated 30,000 drivers who use this section of road daily. This is a big time saving – potentially shaving more than two hours from a motorist’s working week.
Mr Lucas said the Queensland Government had provided more than $30 million of the cost of the Boundary/Kelliher road upgrade, which has been delivered in partnership with Brisbane City Council, who provided the remainder of funding.
“But innovative alliance contracting and the drought have helped bring this vital project across the finish line under time and under budget.
“We’ve saved two months and about $2 million,” he said.
Councillor Newman said the four-lane project was delivered ahead of time and under budget.
“This project has been delivered efficiently and collaboratively by Centenary Link Alliance, a project team involving Council, Main Roads and private engineering and construction companies Bielby Holdings, JF Hull Holdings and Bornhorst + Ward,” he said.
“It has taken years of planning to design and construct the new section of Centenary Highway, an overpass at Boundary Road, two highway access roads, drainage works and a range of local road improvements.
“It was not only delivered swiftly and under budget, but with many innovations. The Boundary Road overpass was constructed from the top down so electricity, telecommunications and gas services could be efficiently moved from the old road reserve into the bridge deck.”
Mr Lucas said the Boundary/ Kelliher upgrade was part of a much bigger package of road and public transport improvements for Brisbane’s greater west.
“This upgrade at Boundary/ Kelliher Road has been constructed with rail in mind. $10 million of the cost of the project has gone into building an additional span of the Boundary Road overpass and a large retaining wall.
“It allows the train line to be added for the future Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor with minimal impact on road traffic.
"Over the next year, the Queensland Government will spend more than $130 million on planning for improvements to the Centenary Highway between Richlands and Springfield, as well as the rail line. But it doesn’t stop there.
"Work is already underway on the $366 million Centenary Highway extension from Springfield to the Cunningham Highway at Yamanto, which is due to open by the end of 2009.
“We’re ahead of the game and putting in place the transport infrastructure to support what will be the nation’s growth corridor,” Mr Lucas said.
Media inquiries:
Transport Minister’s office: Robert Hoge 3237 1942
Lord Mayor’s office: Nicky Haydon 0437 831 581 or 3403 4832.