Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 04:58 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Green light for next stage of Eastern Busway
Premier Anna Bligh has given the green light to the next congestion busting stage of the Eastern Busway from Buranda to Main Avenue, Coorparoo.
The Bligh Government has also approved the Eastern Busway Concept Design and Impact Management Plan.
“Under this plan the entire 18km Eastern Busway route from Buranda to Capalaba is now confirmed,” said Ms Bligh.
“This means the busway can be built and opened in stages along this corridor over the next 20 years.”
Construction of the first section of the Eastern Busway – between the Princess Alexandra Hospital and South East Busway at Buranda – is well under way and is due for completion by late 2009.
Premier Anna Bligh and Transport Minister John Mickel said the government has now committed to a $465.8 million investment in the next 2.7 km of the Eastern Busway route.
Of that $123 million is for property resumptions along the route and the remainder is for the construction of the 1.05 km surface and cut and cover tunnel section between Buranda and Mains Avenue.
A state of the art bus station will be constructed at a revitalised Stones Corner and a high quality covered bus terminal will be constructed at Langlands Park.
Construction on this new section will begin in mid 2009 and is expected to be completed by early 2012.
“The blueprint for this next stage outlines an improved project that goes far and beyond the original proposals,” said Premier Bligh.
The new section will connect the existing South East Busway at Buranda with Coorparoo via Stones Corner with 560m of tunnel and 490m of surface busway.
“This busway will be a real congestion buster and carry massive advantages for the people of the Eastern suburbs,” said the Premier.
“It will bypass four sets of traffic lights and the heavily-congested Logan Road, Ipswich Road and O'Keefe Street roundabout at Buranda.
“It will shave up to eight minutes off bus trips through the most congested section of the Old Cleveland Road and will save regular commuters from Coorparoo to the city nearly 1.5 hours in travel time per week.”
Transport Minister John Mickel said that by 2016, the new section of the Eastern busway is expected to carry up to 7000 passengers in the morning peak.
“To carry the same number of passengers by car, you would have to build two extra traffic lanes along Old Cleveland Road,” he said.
“This will provide certainty for the residents who have waited patiently to learn how this next vital link in our city wide Busway network will affect them.”
Minister Mickel said pressing ahead with the new Busway meant there would be some resumptions in the area.
“A total of 96 properties including 21 partial and 16 volumetric are required for the Buranda to Main Avenue section, with resumptions due to begin in July,” he said.
“Of these 21 property owners have taken the state's offer to buy their land early and a further eight are currently under negotiation.
“Nine of the required properties are owner-occupied and all are within the original proposal.”
A further 256 properties are impacted by the confirmation of the entire Busway route.
“TransLink will contact all affected property owners between Buranda and Capalaba today and in the coming days to advise them of the impacts,” said Minister Mickel.
Premier Bligh added that the new certainty of the busway corridor provided a unique opportunity for the government to partner with the private sector to deliver Transit Orientated Developments along the route.
“The recent changes to the Transport Planning and Coordination Act makes it easier for us to develop these residential and commercial hubs,” she said.
“Proposals for a TOD at the site of the old Mega mart centre in Coorparoo - which has been dormant for 16 months - are a step closer because of today’s announcement.
“We will now be able to start acquiring properties and go to market with a view to building a commercial and residential hub at the site.”
Maps of the final Eastern Busway alignment are available online at www.translink.com.au/easternbusway. The final Concept Design and Impact Management Plan will be available in libraries and on DVD soon. Residents can contact the project team on 1800 550 277 to order a copy.
Property owners experiencing hardship as a result of the approved Eastern Busway alignment are encouraged to contact the project team on 1800 031 632 to discuss their concerns.
Premiers (07) 32244500; Minister Mickel’s Office (07) 3237 1945
The Bligh Government has also approved the Eastern Busway Concept Design and Impact Management Plan.
“Under this plan the entire 18km Eastern Busway route from Buranda to Capalaba is now confirmed,” said Ms Bligh.
“This means the busway can be built and opened in stages along this corridor over the next 20 years.”
Construction of the first section of the Eastern Busway – between the Princess Alexandra Hospital and South East Busway at Buranda – is well under way and is due for completion by late 2009.
Premier Anna Bligh and Transport Minister John Mickel said the government has now committed to a $465.8 million investment in the next 2.7 km of the Eastern Busway route.
Of that $123 million is for property resumptions along the route and the remainder is for the construction of the 1.05 km surface and cut and cover tunnel section between Buranda and Mains Avenue.
A state of the art bus station will be constructed at a revitalised Stones Corner and a high quality covered bus terminal will be constructed at Langlands Park.
Construction on this new section will begin in mid 2009 and is expected to be completed by early 2012.
“The blueprint for this next stage outlines an improved project that goes far and beyond the original proposals,” said Premier Bligh.
The new section will connect the existing South East Busway at Buranda with Coorparoo via Stones Corner with 560m of tunnel and 490m of surface busway.
“This busway will be a real congestion buster and carry massive advantages for the people of the Eastern suburbs,” said the Premier.
“It will bypass four sets of traffic lights and the heavily-congested Logan Road, Ipswich Road and O'Keefe Street roundabout at Buranda.
“It will shave up to eight minutes off bus trips through the most congested section of the Old Cleveland Road and will save regular commuters from Coorparoo to the city nearly 1.5 hours in travel time per week.”
Transport Minister John Mickel said that by 2016, the new section of the Eastern busway is expected to carry up to 7000 passengers in the morning peak.
“To carry the same number of passengers by car, you would have to build two extra traffic lanes along Old Cleveland Road,” he said.
“This will provide certainty for the residents who have waited patiently to learn how this next vital link in our city wide Busway network will affect them.”
Minister Mickel said pressing ahead with the new Busway meant there would be some resumptions in the area.
“A total of 96 properties including 21 partial and 16 volumetric are required for the Buranda to Main Avenue section, with resumptions due to begin in July,” he said.
“Of these 21 property owners have taken the state's offer to buy their land early and a further eight are currently under negotiation.
“Nine of the required properties are owner-occupied and all are within the original proposal.”
A further 256 properties are impacted by the confirmation of the entire Busway route.
“TransLink will contact all affected property owners between Buranda and Capalaba today and in the coming days to advise them of the impacts,” said Minister Mickel.
Premier Bligh added that the new certainty of the busway corridor provided a unique opportunity for the government to partner with the private sector to deliver Transit Orientated Developments along the route.
“The recent changes to the Transport Planning and Coordination Act makes it easier for us to develop these residential and commercial hubs,” she said.
“Proposals for a TOD at the site of the old Mega mart centre in Coorparoo - which has been dormant for 16 months - are a step closer because of today’s announcement.
“We will now be able to start acquiring properties and go to market with a view to building a commercial and residential hub at the site.”
Maps of the final Eastern Busway alignment are available online at www.translink.com.au/easternbusway. The final Concept Design and Impact Management Plan will be available in libraries and on DVD soon. Residents can contact the project team on 1800 550 277 to order a copy.
Property owners experiencing hardship as a result of the approved Eastern Busway alignment are encouraged to contact the project team on 1800 031 632 to discuss their concerns.
Premiers (07) 32244500; Minister Mickel’s Office (07) 3237 1945