Brisbane news: Motorists still stuck in gridlock despite new infrastructure

FRUSTRATED Brisbane motorists are averaging speeds as low as 16km/h, with key roads in gridlock. But the biggest letdown is the result of a $1.5 billion measure to clear the congestion.

Morning traffic congestion in Brisbane City. Coronation drive. Pic Jono Searle

MOTORISTS in the state capital are averaging speeds as low as 16km/h to and from work and key roads are in gridlock despite new infrastructure, latest figures show.

Traffic congestion has eased on Milton Rd, but become worse on Coronation Drive, since the opening of the $1.5 billion Legacy Way tunnel, a study reveals.

It also reveals Kingsford Smith Drive – the centre of a battle between lord mayoral candidates – is slowing down even further as cars clog the major thoroughfare.

BRISBANE TOLL ROADS: Legacy Way the first to exceed minimum traffic flow

Motorists are averaging half the speed limit as they traverse congested highways, which have been covered for the first time in the latest Brisbane City Council Key Corridors Performance Report.

Stanley St remains the biggest traffic snarl in the city, with vehicles crawling at an average 16km/h in the morning peak hour, while Coronation Drive is little better at 20km/h.

The inner city bypass is the most free flowing, with traffic staying close to 60km/h east and west bound.

In the first full study since Legacy Way opened in June, figures show ­average speeds on Milton Rd increased to 31km/h in the morning, up from 25km last year, and 33km/h in the afternoon, up from just 20km/h.

Brisbane’s slowest roads.

But Coronation Drive has failed to receive the benefit predicted from Legacy Way.

The notorious stretch of road continued to slow, down to 20km/h in the morning and 35km/h in the evening – both down 1km/h compared to last year.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the survey showed travel times on Milton Rd had ­improved significantly since the tunnel’s opening.

“While motorists using the tunnel are experiencing significant travel time savings, people using surface roads are also reaping big benefits,” he said.

Kingsford Smith Drive had the biggest slowdown, dropping 9km/h, from 37km/h to just 28km/h.

It has been the focus of an election battle, with Cr Quirk proceeding with a $650 million upgrade, while Labor’s lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding has pledged to scrap it, spend $150 million upgrading three intersections and spend the rest of the money on suburban traffic snarls.

While Mr Harding has said the project is “gold plated”, Cr Quirk said the upgrade was vital.

Coronation Drive remains one of Brisbane’s most congested roads despite the addition of the $1.5 billion Legacy Way tunnel. Picture: Jono Searle

“The Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade is expanding one of Brisbane’s most important traffic corridors, which has been operating at capacity for several years,” he said.

Cr Quirk said projects such as Clem7, Airport Link, Go-Between Bridge and Legacy Way had removed about 120,000 vehicle trips a day from surface roads.

“(It) means people are spending less time stuck in traffic,” he said.

The Pacific Motorway, between Beenleigh Exit and the Gateway, is one of the slowest state roads, with motorists’ ­average speed dropping from the limit of 100km/h to just 49km/h in morning traffic.

Centenary Highway fared little better, with average speeds falling to 51km/h in the morning and 47km/h in the evening.