Published Thursday, 24 July, 2008 at 09:29 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
New congestion busting interchange opens
Premier Anna Bligh has officially commissioned the congesting busting Sunshine Motorway upgrade at Sippy Downs.
The Dixon/Claymore Road interchange completes the State Government’s $66 million upgrade of the motorway between Sippy Downs Drive and Kawana Way with traffic due to start flowing on the new road on Friday.
The new interchange now links Sippy Downs Drive directly to the Sunshine Motorway for both eastbound and westbound traffic and improves access to the area’s thriving education precinct.
It will cut 10 minutes off the average journey for motorists accessing the educational precinct and for those travelling between Buderim and Sippy Downs.
The project is the first of the State Government’s trio of Sunshine Coast motorway major upgrades worth $255 million to be completed.
The $104 million upgrade between Maroochydore Road and David Low Way will be finished later this year, while the $85 million upgrade between David Low Way and Pacific Paradise will be finished in 2009.
The Premier and Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt toured the new road today in one of the region’s new Transport Response Units.
“I got to tour the Sunshine Coast’s newest congestion busting road in one of the Sunshine Coast’s recently commissioned congestion busting vehicles,” said the Premier.
“I enjoyed the experience and I know motorists will enjoy the average time savings of ten minutes that this interchange will deliver.
“In fact local newspaper reports say that parents could slash up to 25 minutes off their school runs when traffic starts flowing tomorrow.
“This upgrade is a welcome addition to the local infrastructure – and there’s more to come.
The Sippy Downs section is one of the busiest on the Sunshine Motorway, carrying more than 37,000 vehicles per day and the new interchange is expected to carry around 5000 vehicles per day.
"This upgrade had already doubled the capacity of 5km of the Sunshine Motorway and reduced congestion around the University of the Sunshine Coast and Chancellor State College,” said the Premier.
"The Queensland Government is committed to tackling congestion by building vital road infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast.
“We are building tomorrow’s Queensland today and the Government’s latest five-year rolling program of works includes $1.9 billion in upgrades and maintenance for this North Coast region.”
Mr Pitt said Main Roads had worked closely with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and its predecessor, the Maroochy Shire Council, to deliver the upgrade.
"The co-operation between Main Roads and local government has helped this project to progress smoothly and the community will be the beneficiary of that," Mr Pitt said.
"Construction of the interchange started last July and has been completed on time and within budget, with westbound on and off ramps available to motorists since February.
"Main Roads and council also worked together to deliver the new 1 kilometre section of Sippy Downs Drive, which opened to traffic towards the end of January.”
Ms Bligh thanked the community for its support during the course of the upgrade.
"I know the people of the Sunshine Coast have shown a great interest in this project since its inception and also a deal of patience as it took shape," Ms Bligh said.
"I thank them sincerely for that. I'm sure this interchange will ultimately reward them for that patience many times over."
In addition to the improvements for motorists, the upgrade includes a new cycle path, running along Sippy Downs Drive, which will connect to the existing cycleway to Mooloolaba.
Media contact: Premiers 32244500; Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The Dixon/Claymore Road interchange completes the State Government’s $66 million upgrade of the motorway between Sippy Downs Drive and Kawana Way with traffic due to start flowing on the new road on Friday.
The new interchange now links Sippy Downs Drive directly to the Sunshine Motorway for both eastbound and westbound traffic and improves access to the area’s thriving education precinct.
It will cut 10 minutes off the average journey for motorists accessing the educational precinct and for those travelling between Buderim and Sippy Downs.
The project is the first of the State Government’s trio of Sunshine Coast motorway major upgrades worth $255 million to be completed.
The $104 million upgrade between Maroochydore Road and David Low Way will be finished later this year, while the $85 million upgrade between David Low Way and Pacific Paradise will be finished in 2009.
The Premier and Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt toured the new road today in one of the region’s new Transport Response Units.
“I got to tour the Sunshine Coast’s newest congestion busting road in one of the Sunshine Coast’s recently commissioned congestion busting vehicles,” said the Premier.
“I enjoyed the experience and I know motorists will enjoy the average time savings of ten minutes that this interchange will deliver.
“In fact local newspaper reports say that parents could slash up to 25 minutes off their school runs when traffic starts flowing tomorrow.
“This upgrade is a welcome addition to the local infrastructure – and there’s more to come.
The Sippy Downs section is one of the busiest on the Sunshine Motorway, carrying more than 37,000 vehicles per day and the new interchange is expected to carry around 5000 vehicles per day.
"This upgrade had already doubled the capacity of 5km of the Sunshine Motorway and reduced congestion around the University of the Sunshine Coast and Chancellor State College,” said the Premier.
"The Queensland Government is committed to tackling congestion by building vital road infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast.
“We are building tomorrow’s Queensland today and the Government’s latest five-year rolling program of works includes $1.9 billion in upgrades and maintenance for this North Coast region.”
Mr Pitt said Main Roads had worked closely with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and its predecessor, the Maroochy Shire Council, to deliver the upgrade.
"The co-operation between Main Roads and local government has helped this project to progress smoothly and the community will be the beneficiary of that," Mr Pitt said.
"Construction of the interchange started last July and has been completed on time and within budget, with westbound on and off ramps available to motorists since February.
"Main Roads and council also worked together to deliver the new 1 kilometre section of Sippy Downs Drive, which opened to traffic towards the end of January.”
Ms Bligh thanked the community for its support during the course of the upgrade.
"I know the people of the Sunshine Coast have shown a great interest in this project since its inception and also a deal of patience as it took shape," Ms Bligh said.
"I thank them sincerely for that. I'm sure this interchange will ultimately reward them for that patience many times over."
In addition to the improvements for motorists, the upgrade includes a new cycle path, running along Sippy Downs Drive, which will connect to the existing cycleway to Mooloolaba.
Media contact: Premiers 32244500; Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819