Celebrate second Gateway Bridge opening

Four lanes of southbound traffic will soon be flowing over the new twin Gateway Bridge and a celebration will be held on Sunday May 16 to mark the occasion, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

The new Gateway Bridge Community Day (9am to 4pm) will mean thousands of Queenslanders can mark four lanes opening on the second Gateway Bridge, with further lanes progressively opening as work is completed.

Ms Bligh said motorists will ultimately have 12 lanes across the river - six northbound and six southbound and all 12 lanes will be open by the end of the year, six months ahead of schedule.

“We want to give motorists the benefits of those extra lanes as soon as they’re available – every extra lane means an extra 1400 vehicles an hour can cross the river,” said the Premier.

“May 16 is about letting people onto the bridge so they can walk the length of one of the world’s longest single-span concrete bridges for themselves.

“When all the final approach roadworks are completed in November this year, the renamed Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge will be fully opened to traffic with 1.6 kilometres of 12-lane motorway – six lanes in each direction - over the Brisbane River between Murarrie and Eagle Farm.

“The Sir Leo will slash travel times between Brisbane’s east and the inner north because it has the capacity to carry 200,000 vehicles across the Brisbane River – that’s double the 100,000 we see each day.”

Premier Bligh encouraged Queenslanders to register for the event at www.gatewaybridgeopening.com.au which also has information on event transport and access.

“The day will be a unique opportunity for people to set foot on the bridge before traffic, take in the views 50m above the Brisbane River, and appreciate the remarkable achievement,” said the Premier.

“We’re asking some of Brisbane’s most popular seafood outlets to help us put on a mammoth fish and chip feast to help feed the many people expected to attend the event.

“Local schoolchildren will also be putting brush to canvas to create what will be one of the biggest mural artworks in Brisbane suspended along the length of the bridge, giving them a part to play in this historic project.”

Ms Bligh said following the community day, the existing and new Gateway bridges would be officially known as the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges.

“Taking centre stage on the day will be some of the people who have worked on the Gateway Upgrade Project over the three years since the first sod was turned on the bridge,” she said.

“Sir Leo Hielscher will also attend to be honoured as part of the naming ceremony. I invite all Queenslanders to come and be part of this very momentous occasion in Queensland’s history.”

Queensland Motorways CEO Phil Mumford said one week after the Sunday open day, southbound traffic would be moved on to the new bridge.

“The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge will initially open to four lanes of traffic until final works are completed at either end of the bridge,” he said.

“Three lanes on the existing bridge will remain open while the other three will be closed for refurbishments.

“By August, drivers will get to use all six southbound lanes on the new bridge and by November all 12 lanes – six lanes on each bridge.”

Ms Bligh said the time saving had allowed the government to consider extending the original $1.88 billion contract to provide additional benefits for motorists.

“Given the time savings from the original contract, the government has committed an additional $240 million to upgrade the missing link of six-lane motorway south of Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road,” Ms Bligh said.

“This investment will see an upgrade from four to six lanes through to the Pacific Motorway, providing motorists with a six-lane high speed road all the way from Nerang to Nudgee.

“And it will all be completed within the original project completion date of June 2011.”

For more details on the Gateway Upgrade Project, please visit the project website at http://www.gatewayupgradeproject.com.au/asp/index.asp

Contact 07 32244500

Progressive opening of lanes this year:

READY: May – 7 lanes: 4 southbound on new bridge, 3 northbound on existing bridge

SET: August – 9 lanes: 6 southbound on new bridge, 3 northbound on existing bridge

GO: Dec – 12 lanes: 6 southbound on new bridge, 6 northbound on existing bridge

Event Details:

What: Second Gateway Bridge Community Day

Date: Sunday 16 May, 2010

Time: 9am through to 4pm

Location: Second Gateway Bridge, approach from Murrarie or Eagle Farm

Transport: Please take public transport, see www.gatewaybridgeopening.com.au for more

Entry: Free

How: Please sign up at www.gatewaybridgeopening.com.au