BRIDGING BRISBANE TO THE FUTURE

An army of 700 workers has started work on building extra lanes, a second Gateway Bridge and a new airport connection, as part of the $1.9 billion Gateway Upgrade Project.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, told Parliament today workers had begun driving the basic structural foundations of the second bridge into the river bed.

“It signals the beginning of the business end of Queensland’s biggest road and bridge construction job.

“This project is more than just a new six lane bridge – we’re duplicating a state icon.

“Over 470 piles are being pounded up to 55 metres into the river to form the beginnings of the bridge structure.

“In all, 16,000 piles will be driven for 26 bridges along the entire 20km length of the project.

“That’s a lot of piles - laid end to end they’d stretch from Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall to Helensvale at the northern end of the Gold Coast.

“In early 2008, a huge 1,000 tonne launching gantry will be raised alongside the existing bridge to lift into place mammoth concrete sections of bridge.

“Piece by piece, the bridge’s concrete sections are being pre-cast at factory beside the worksite.

“It’s part of the innovation built into the project to deliver it within budget by mid 2011.

Mr Lucas said the Gateway Upgrade Project would also see the widening of 20 kilometres of existing motorway from Mt Gravatt – Capalaba Road to Nudgee Road.

“That’s in addition to a new six lane deviation north of the Gateway Bridge to a new airport interchange.

“It will deliver a dramatic improvement in road access to the airport and the Port of Brisbane.

“Motorists are already enjoying the benefits of the iconic Gateway project.

“Just last month work finished on the $10.5 million upgrade of the Gateway intersection with Wynnum Road, which was jointly funded with Brisbane City Council.

“It’s improved traffic flow, made getting onto the Gateway much easier for motorists, and added bike and pedestrian access to both sides of Wynnum Road.

“For motorists it already means a five minute saving during peak travel times.

“Wynnum Road is the first in a series of progressive openings.

“Two additional southbound lanes on the Gateway between the Port of Brisbane Motorway and Wynnum Road are planned to open to traffic by the end of the year.

“By mid 2009 motorists will be on the new airport connection and by late 2009 we will have opened all six lanes from Mt Gravatt – Capalaba Road to Wynnum Road.”

Mr Lucas said when the first Gateway Bridge opened in 1986 it carried 17,000 vehicles a day, but had now reached up to 100,000.

“The Gateway upgrade is taking shape – you can now see concrete evidence of that.

“This is a ‘must do’ project to address Brisbane’s traffic congestion and meet the growing demands of the nation’s freight task.

“It’s important for maintaining Queensland’s place as Australia’s economic engine room.

“But how much is the Federal Government contributing to this project?

“Not one cent - they’re simply not interested in nation building,” Mr Lucas said.

Media Contact: Darren Roberts 0448 184566.