Alliance named to build next stage of Eastern Busway

The Queensland Government has announced the alliance team to start construction of the Buranda to Main Avenue section of the Eastern Busway.

Transport Minister John Mickel said Leighton Contractors had been selected to join the Queensland Government and Sinclair Knight Merz/Maunsell AECOM to design and build the next section of the Eastern Busway.

"Five construction companies responded to the government's call for proposals and an intensive evaluation process determined the winning bid," Mr Mickel said.

"Queensland Transport is confident it has selected the best team to deliver the congestion-busting Buranda to Main Avenue section of the $465.8 million Eastern Busway project.

“The Eastern Busway (Buranda to Main Avenue) will deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport for the eastern suburbs.

“The busway will provide Brisbane public transport users a cleaner and greener way to get around and will cut up to eight minutes off bus trips to the city.

“By 2016 the Eastern Busway will carry 7,000 passengers in the morning peak – this is equivalent of two extra traffic lanes along Old Cleveland Road.

" Work is set to commence in mid 2009, but the alliance has hit the ground running and local residents will start to see project team members out and about in the project corridor in coming weeks.”

Mr Mickel said project officers would be at Buranda, Stones Corner and Coorparoo to perform a range of technical surveys and investigations.

“These investigations will build on work undertaken in the planning phase and provide more information about geotechnical and environmental conditions to help with the project's design and construction,” he said.

The 1.05km Buranda to Main Avenue section of the Eastern Busway is due for completion by early 2012, and will connect the existing South East Busway at Buranda with Coorparoo via Stones Corner in a combination of tunnel, bridge and at-surface busway.

A state-of-the-art busway station will be built at Stones Corner with a high-quality bus stop at Langlands Park that offers protection for a future busway station.

Community members interested in receiving regular updates from the project team can register their details by free calling 1800 550 277 or via e-mail at easternbusway@transport.qld.gov.au

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Media contact: Jane Rowe 3237 1125