Busy Brisbane road being redesigned as tunnel decision looms

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish has asked his department to come up with designs to show how Gympie Road might cater for local traffic, with better public transport facilities and paths, if long-distance drivers were to use a proposed toll tunnel.

The Miles government was expected to use the state budget in June to make a decision on the Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel, proposed by the Queensland Investment Corporation to offer a paid alternative for motorists travelling between Kedron and Carseldine.

A Suburban Futures concept for Gympie Road at Chermside. The Department of Transport and Main Roads has been asked to come up with its own.Credit: MODE Design

If given the green light, the tunnel would connect with Airport Link, and from it Brisbane’s other toll tunnels and bridges, and allow more traffic to avoid the inner city.

Above ground, the existing six-lane road would be expected to carry less traffic, and Mellish has asked his department to look at a possible reconfiguration to make Gympie Road cater more for local transport, public transport and active transport.

“We don’t want to go the way that some other cities have gone and reduce non-toll options,” Mellish said.

“But, having said that, a lot of the modelling has shown that people travelling longer distance would choose to take the tunnel.”

Mellish said Gympie Road could also benefit from better  tree and shade cover, which would boost businesses and improve amenity.

“In the middle of summer it’s not the most pleasant place to be with the traffic and the heat, and we would want to make it more accessible for everyone,” he said.

Mellish said Gympie Road could be reconfigured with e-scooters in mind, given their increasing popularity, and the government would also want to factor in an upgrade of the Chermside bus station. The rollout of the Northern Transitway has been halted at Rode Road in anticipation of changes.

Tolling giant Transurban has expressed interest in adding the tunnel to its Brisbane network, having experienced revenue growth of 10.5 per cent in the first six months of 2023-24.

In NSW, a recent review recommended an overhaul of tolling rules and practices. Mellish would not be drawn on the review, other than to say he would consider any changes that would benefit Queensland motorists.

The concept designs were likely to be released after the government made a decision on the tunnel.

The tunnel proposal followed work by Brisbane City Council on possible road and rail tunnels that could help alleviate congestion in the city’s north without having to develop the North West Transport Corridor.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has called for the corridor to be made a permanent green corridor instead, to prevent any future government running heavy rail through the suburbs.

Mellish said he expected it to remain a public transport corridor even though part of the route was now covered with mature bushland or flanked by houses, and the southern end was located near four-lane roads that were already busy.

Despite their political differences, Schrinner campaigned for re-election in support of the proposed tunnel.

The council and federal government might be asked to contribute funds.