The Queensland Government is set to spend $35 million on an investment proposal for a new toll road tunnel between Kedron and Carseldine in Brisbane’s north.
The proposal will be led by newly formed North Brisbane Infrastructure, which will be established through the Queensland Investment Corporation.
North Brisbane Infrastructure will undertake detailed transport modelling, technical assessments and financial analysis as part of the process.
“As a world-leader in funds management, the Queensland Investment Corporation has nearly $30 billion worth of infrastructure assets under management,” said Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick.
“It has the expertise to give us the clearest answer in the shortest time to decide whether a Gympie Road toll tunnel stacks up.”
If it goes ahead, the tunnel would offer a seamless link from Bruce Hwy to Legacy Way, Clem 7, M1 and Centenary Hwy.
The potential benefits that will be examined as part of the investment proposal include:
- shorter commuter times
- better connections with the Bruce Highway to and from the Sunshine Coast
- better connections to the west of the city through Legacy Way and south through the Clem7 to the M1
- Improving amenity and liveability for locals by removing through traffic from Gympie Road.
Dick says that with forecast population growth on the Sunshine Coast and in the Moreton Bay region set to increase traffic into Brisbane, now is the right time to do this work.
“Based on Brisbane’s most recent road tunnel projects, from this point the tunnel could potentially be built within about eight years if it stacks up,” he said.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey added, “A Gympie Road Bypass solution would complement the works currently underway to bust congestion and improve connectivity as part of the Northern Transitway from Kedron to Chermside.”
According to Member for Aspley Bart Mellish, the tunnel being considered is the best solution. “Locals tell me they don’t want to see a new road constructed on the Trouts Road corridor, which would effectively cut our northside community in two, and I agree with them.
“This is the simplest, most effective and least disruptive solution to Gympie Road gridlock.
“I’ve been pushing for a fix to Gympie Road Gridlock for long time – and I’m thrilled that we’ve now got a real solution on the table.”
Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan said Gympie Road is being forced to function as both a highway and a local road at the same time. “It can’t continue to do both,” he said.
“By taking through-traffic underground, Gympie Road could go back to its original purpose of connecting locals to local destinations.”
Community consultation will be undertaken later this year.