2008 the Year of Infrastructure Delivery: Lucas (revised)
Published Tuesday, 08 January, 2008 at 01:25 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
There was no clearer sign of the State Government's commitment to infrastructure than the new Gateway Bridge that was rising out of the Brisbane River, Acting Premier Paul Lucas said today.
Inspecting work on the Gateway Bridge duplication with Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt, Mr Lucas said it was quickly becoming one of South East Queensland's most visible infrastructure projects.
“The majority of the second Gateway Bridge’s 17 piers are now at varying stages of completion,” Mr Lucas said.
“Over the next year drivers, air travellers and people just out enjoying a river cruise will see the skeleton of a magnificent new bridge rise out of Brisbane River.
“Week by week in 2008, people will see these early works start to take the distinctive shape of the existing bridge.
“On its own, the new bridge is a massive undertaking. But it’s only one part of this $1.9 billion project, which also includes upgrading of 12km motorway upgrade south of the bridge and 7km of new motorway from the northern side of the bridges to Nudgee Road, including a new airport interchange
“Motorists are already enjoying the benefits of progressive openings on the project. The upgraded Wynnum Rd/Gateway Motorway interchange has been cutting congestion since it opened mid last year.
“And late last year we opened two extra southbound lanes from Lytton Rd to Wynnum Rd.
“We’ll open more parts of the project as they come online including mid next year the first four lanes of a new link from the bridge to the airport.
“This seven kilometre deviation, which includes a second access to the Brisbane Airport that will relieve congestion at the airport roundabout when complete, is now unmistakeable as motorists head north over the Gateway Bridge.”
Mr Pitt said there had been major progress on the new Gateway Bridge in less than a year.
“We've already poured more than 120,000 tonnes of rock into the Brisbane River to construct two islands for the main bridge piers,” Mr Pitt said.
“Queensland’s largest pre-cast concrete manufacturing facility is now fully operational, completing the first match cast segments just before the new year.
“This purpose-built facility is providing concrete components for the project including octagonal piles, super tee beams and match-cast segments for the approach spans of the second Gateway Bridge.”
Mr Pitt said over the next year motorists would also see construction of 16 bridges and overpasses in the north of the project, including bridges over Kingsford Smith Drive and Airport Drive and an 800 metre long bridge over the Kedron Brook floodplain near Nudgee Golf Course.
“A new Port of Brisbane Motorway southbound on-ramp was opened on Christmas Eve to provide a better connection to the Gateway Motorway and reduce some of the congestion which is occurring during peak times.
“There is also an additional southbound lane from Lytton Road to the Port of Brisbane Motorway, then two additional temporary southbound lanes from the Port of Brisbane Motorway to Wynnum Road.
“And the $10.5 million Wynnum Road Upgrade has provided extra lanes on Wynnum Road through Tingalpa and improved connections to the Gateway Motorway.”
Mr Lucas said the Gateway Upgrade Project was only one of many infrastructure projects reshaping South East Queensland.
“We're spending $100 million a week building and maintaining the roads, railways, ports and busways that keep Queensland moving,” Mr Lucas said.
“This year we'll see the $543 million Tugun Bypass completed. And by the middle of the year thousands of commuters will be getting to work faster thanks to the State Government's $333 million Inner Northern Busway.
“But it's not just transport and road projects that are reshaping South East Queensland.
“By the end of the year, we'll also see the completion of the Gold Coast desalination plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, which will deliver water to people’s homes.
“These are two of the biggest parts of the State Government's $9 billion water grid.
“It’s projects like these and the hospitals and schools that we’re continuing to build that show the State Government’s commitment to managing the strong growth of South East Queensland.”
Media inquiries
Office of Acting Premier: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868
Office of Minister for Main Roads and Local Government: Peter Nibbs 0417 789 208
About the Gateway Upgrade Project
The $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project is being delivered by Queensland Motorways on behalf of the State Government. Design and construction is being undertaken by the Leighton Abigroup joint venture. Key features of the Gateway Upgrade Project include:
• widening the Gateway Motorway between Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road and Wynnum Road from four to six lanes (opening 2009)
• widening the Gateway Motorway between Wynnum Road and Lytton Road from four to eight lanes (two additional lanes southbound by late 2007, all lanes opened by 2009)
• constructing a second Gateway Bridge with six lanes and a shared pedestrian and cycle path (opening six lanes southbound by late 2010)
• constructing a new six-lane deviation from the Gateway Bridges north to a new Airport Interchange and then four lanes over Kedron Brook to Nudgee Road (opening four lanes in 2009, all six lanes by late 2010)
• refurbishing the existing Gateway Bridge (from three to six lanes northbound by mid 2011)
• removing cash tolling and introducing free-flow electronic tolling facilities.
Inspecting work on the Gateway Bridge duplication with Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt, Mr Lucas said it was quickly becoming one of South East Queensland's most visible infrastructure projects.
“The majority of the second Gateway Bridge’s 17 piers are now at varying stages of completion,” Mr Lucas said.
“Over the next year drivers, air travellers and people just out enjoying a river cruise will see the skeleton of a magnificent new bridge rise out of Brisbane River.
“Week by week in 2008, people will see these early works start to take the distinctive shape of the existing bridge.
“On its own, the new bridge is a massive undertaking. But it’s only one part of this $1.9 billion project, which also includes upgrading of 12km motorway upgrade south of the bridge and 7km of new motorway from the northern side of the bridges to Nudgee Road, including a new airport interchange
“Motorists are already enjoying the benefits of progressive openings on the project. The upgraded Wynnum Rd/Gateway Motorway interchange has been cutting congestion since it opened mid last year.
“And late last year we opened two extra southbound lanes from Lytton Rd to Wynnum Rd.
“We’ll open more parts of the project as they come online including mid next year the first four lanes of a new link from the bridge to the airport.
“This seven kilometre deviation, which includes a second access to the Brisbane Airport that will relieve congestion at the airport roundabout when complete, is now unmistakeable as motorists head north over the Gateway Bridge.”
Mr Pitt said there had been major progress on the new Gateway Bridge in less than a year.
“We've already poured more than 120,000 tonnes of rock into the Brisbane River to construct two islands for the main bridge piers,” Mr Pitt said.
“Queensland’s largest pre-cast concrete manufacturing facility is now fully operational, completing the first match cast segments just before the new year.
“This purpose-built facility is providing concrete components for the project including octagonal piles, super tee beams and match-cast segments for the approach spans of the second Gateway Bridge.”
Mr Pitt said over the next year motorists would also see construction of 16 bridges and overpasses in the north of the project, including bridges over Kingsford Smith Drive and Airport Drive and an 800 metre long bridge over the Kedron Brook floodplain near Nudgee Golf Course.
“A new Port of Brisbane Motorway southbound on-ramp was opened on Christmas Eve to provide a better connection to the Gateway Motorway and reduce some of the congestion which is occurring during peak times.
“There is also an additional southbound lane from Lytton Road to the Port of Brisbane Motorway, then two additional temporary southbound lanes from the Port of Brisbane Motorway to Wynnum Road.
“And the $10.5 million Wynnum Road Upgrade has provided extra lanes on Wynnum Road through Tingalpa and improved connections to the Gateway Motorway.”
Mr Lucas said the Gateway Upgrade Project was only one of many infrastructure projects reshaping South East Queensland.
“We're spending $100 million a week building and maintaining the roads, railways, ports and busways that keep Queensland moving,” Mr Lucas said.
“This year we'll see the $543 million Tugun Bypass completed. And by the middle of the year thousands of commuters will be getting to work faster thanks to the State Government's $333 million Inner Northern Busway.
“But it's not just transport and road projects that are reshaping South East Queensland.
“By the end of the year, we'll also see the completion of the Gold Coast desalination plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, which will deliver water to people’s homes.
“These are two of the biggest parts of the State Government's $9 billion water grid.
“It’s projects like these and the hospitals and schools that we’re continuing to build that show the State Government’s commitment to managing the strong growth of South East Queensland.”
Media inquiries
Office of Acting Premier: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868
Office of Minister for Main Roads and Local Government: Peter Nibbs 0417 789 208
About the Gateway Upgrade Project
The $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project is being delivered by Queensland Motorways on behalf of the State Government. Design and construction is being undertaken by the Leighton Abigroup joint venture. Key features of the Gateway Upgrade Project include:
• widening the Gateway Motorway between Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road and Wynnum Road from four to six lanes (opening 2009)
• widening the Gateway Motorway between Wynnum Road and Lytton Road from four to eight lanes (two additional lanes southbound by late 2007, all lanes opened by 2009)
• constructing a second Gateway Bridge with six lanes and a shared pedestrian and cycle path (opening six lanes southbound by late 2010)
• constructing a new six-lane deviation from the Gateway Bridges north to a new Airport Interchange and then four lanes over Kedron Brook to Nudgee Road (opening four lanes in 2009, all six lanes by late 2010)
• refurbishing the existing Gateway Bridge (from three to six lanes northbound by mid 2011)
• removing cash tolling and introducing free-flow electronic tolling facilities.