Transport lobby wants Brisbane tunnel modelling released amid congestion fears

Traffic modelling on the Queensland government’s proposed Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel must be released before a decision is handed down because a poorly planned tunnel could increase road congestion, the RACQ has warned.

A road tunnel between Kedron and Carseldine was announced by Treasurer Cameron Dick in June 2023. The government has not released any information about it since, despite running a community engagement program and funding geotechnical investigation works along the route.

With a decision expected in the June budget, Transport Minister Bart Mellish has also asked his department to come up with designs to show how Gympie Road could change if long-distance traffic was sent underground.

The RACQ warns the state government must be wary that its proposed Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel could create congestion in the area around the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, the Inner City Bypass and Lutwyche Road.Credit: Michelle Smith

Initial public consultation finished five months ago but any information gleaned during the $35 million, 12-month toll-tunnel research project has not been made public.

RACQ head of public policy Michael Kane said traffic modelling needed to be released and explained, so the public had faith in decisions made in the state budget.

RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane.

“One of our concerns was that more radial road infrastructure in towards the city could potentially create congestion on the southern end of the tunnel,” Kane said.

“Particularly, down closer to the city because [the proposed tunnel] would link in to the Airport Link southern section and then push more traffic around the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and the Inner City Bypass and onto Lutwyche Road.

“We think the modelling should be made available before any real decision is made to proceed.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he also wanted to see the traffic modelling to check possible congestion.

“It’s a fair and reasonable request from the RACQ, I think,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all this modelling released.”

Schrinner clarified he first wanted a “commitment to getting on with the tunnel”.

“I think a commitment to actually getting on with the tunnel is something that needs to happen sooner, rather than later,” Schrinner said.

“I think finessing the design is a different story. That can happen once the commitment is made.”

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

Traffic modelling used for Brisbane’s Clem 7 tunnel in 2009 and Airport Link tunnels was inaccurate.

Brisbane City Council provided its 2022 research into two nearby northside tunnel routes under Trouts Road, west of Gympie Road, to the state government but that council-led project was rejected after being criticised by former transport minister Mark Bailey amid a bitter fight between the two levels of government.

The Queensland government asked the Queensland Investment Corporation to set up a semi-government body, North Brisbane Infrastructure, to research the proposed tunnel.

North Brisbane Infrastructure said it would not release modelling or any of the public consultation because it was part of the investment proposal given to Queensland cabinet.

“A range of activities to develop the proposal have been undertaken over the past year, including technical and financial assessments and initial community consultation,” a spokeswoman said.

“A proposal has now been submitted to the government for their consideration as part of this year’s budget process.”

Kane said the RACQ supported the Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel proposal but warned a broader transport policy must include better busway links along Gympie Road and Lutwyche Road.

“If you look at the southside, they get the Pacific Motorway – not tolled – and a dedicated busway [South East Busway],” he said.

“The northside has the Airport Link tunnel, which is tolled, and another toll tunnel which is the one now under consideration.”

Kane said there were 28 sets of traffic lights along Lutwyche and Gympie Roads between Herston and Bracken Ridge.

He warned against linking from Gympie Road to the proposed road tunnel.

“Where is the high-grade public transport? That is actually the more important piece of infrastructure on that corridor running into the city.”

He said Brisbane also badly needed a western bypass of the central city – from the Centenary Motorway connecting to the Bruce Highway – which was a future stage of Brisbane City Council 2022 northside tunnel plan.

“The Gympie Road Tunnel could form a part of that.

“And we have asked in our submission that a design could ensure a connection through to Stafford Road and through to another tunnel to the Centenary Motorway should be part of the thinking.”