Published Saturday, 03 May, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Be part of history with first drive along Tugun Bypass
Up to four lucky Gold Coast residents will become part of history when they win the prize of being the first members of the public to drive along the $543 million Tugun Bypass next month.
Premier Anna Bligh and Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt have launched a competition allowing residents to gain an exclusive sneak peek of the bypass before it opens to traffic on 2 June.
“We’re entering a historic period of infrastructure delivery and the Tugun Bypass is a perfect example of that,’’ said Ms Bligh.
“We are building tomorrow’s Queensland today and in the case of the Tugun Bypass, we’re doing it six months early.
“This project is on budget, ahead of schedule and this Gold Coast Bulletin competition is a celebration of that.
“This great competition will give a lucky family the chance to be among the first people to drive along $543 million worth of congestion-busting bitumen.
“The four-lane, seven-kilometre Tugun Bypass will cut five to 20 minutes from travel times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads.
“Anybody who has travelled through Currumbin and Tugun on a long weekend – like I have – knows what this new road and tunnel means to people here.
“Congestion is a massive issue for Queenslanders and that is why we are laying bitumen, building tunnels and upgrading railway routes all over the state.
“My government is spending $1.6 million every hour of every day building and rebuilding Queensland’s infrastructure.
“This bypass is just part of the Gold Coast’s share and I hope everyone on the coast will get the chance to enjoy this fantastic piece of infrastructure.”
Mr Pitt said the Tugun Bypass removed a major congestion bottleneck from the southern Gold Coast.
“The completion of the Tugun Bypass, some six months earlier than scheduled, represents a significant achievement and this competition is a great way for the public to join in the opening celebrations,” he said.
“The bypass, linking Queensland and New South Wales, is a significant engineering achievement, featuring Queensland's only 100km/h-rated four-lane tunnel and the latest in 'smart road' features, including intelligent transport system components.”
The bypass connects the Stewart Rd interchange at Currumbin with the Tweed Heads Bypass in NSW. Traffic modelling shows about 46,000 vehicles will use the bypass each day, reducing existing traffic along the Gold Coast Highway by up to 55 per cent and cutting travel times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads to five minutes.
The road has been funded by the Queensland Government ($423 million) and the Federal Government ($120 million).
Competition coupons have started appearing in the Gold Coast Bulletin today, with entries to close on 27 May. The winner/s will be drawn on 28 May and the drive-through will take place on 2 June ahead of the official switching of traffic to the new bypass.
The competition is open to individuals or families up to four people and the winner/s will be notified by phone.
For more information about the competition, visit www.goldcoast.com.au from Tuesday 6 May.
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 32244500; Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Premier Anna Bligh and Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt have launched a competition allowing residents to gain an exclusive sneak peek of the bypass before it opens to traffic on 2 June.
“We’re entering a historic period of infrastructure delivery and the Tugun Bypass is a perfect example of that,’’ said Ms Bligh.
“We are building tomorrow’s Queensland today and in the case of the Tugun Bypass, we’re doing it six months early.
“This project is on budget, ahead of schedule and this Gold Coast Bulletin competition is a celebration of that.
“This great competition will give a lucky family the chance to be among the first people to drive along $543 million worth of congestion-busting bitumen.
“The four-lane, seven-kilometre Tugun Bypass will cut five to 20 minutes from travel times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads.
“Anybody who has travelled through Currumbin and Tugun on a long weekend – like I have – knows what this new road and tunnel means to people here.
“Congestion is a massive issue for Queenslanders and that is why we are laying bitumen, building tunnels and upgrading railway routes all over the state.
“My government is spending $1.6 million every hour of every day building and rebuilding Queensland’s infrastructure.
“This bypass is just part of the Gold Coast’s share and I hope everyone on the coast will get the chance to enjoy this fantastic piece of infrastructure.”
Mr Pitt said the Tugun Bypass removed a major congestion bottleneck from the southern Gold Coast.
“The completion of the Tugun Bypass, some six months earlier than scheduled, represents a significant achievement and this competition is a great way for the public to join in the opening celebrations,” he said.
“The bypass, linking Queensland and New South Wales, is a significant engineering achievement, featuring Queensland's only 100km/h-rated four-lane tunnel and the latest in 'smart road' features, including intelligent transport system components.”
The bypass connects the Stewart Rd interchange at Currumbin with the Tweed Heads Bypass in NSW. Traffic modelling shows about 46,000 vehicles will use the bypass each day, reducing existing traffic along the Gold Coast Highway by up to 55 per cent and cutting travel times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads to five minutes.
The road has been funded by the Queensland Government ($423 million) and the Federal Government ($120 million).
Competition coupons have started appearing in the Gold Coast Bulletin today, with entries to close on 27 May. The winner/s will be drawn on 28 May and the drive-through will take place on 2 June ahead of the official switching of traffic to the new bypass.
The competition is open to individuals or families up to four people and the winner/s will be notified by phone.
For more information about the competition, visit www.goldcoast.com.au from Tuesday 6 May.
Media contacts: Premier’s Office 32244500; Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819