Drivers left in a jam as brakes put on congestion busting projects
Just one of the 31 “congestion busting” projects promised by the Coalition before the last election has been completed - a fraction of the $1.2 billion worth of works pledged.
QLD News
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Just one of the 31 “congestion busting” projects promised by the Coalition before the last election has been completed and only four are under construction, while many are yet to even receive funding until after the next election.
The one project, a $4 million intersection upgrade at Newstead, is just a fraction of the $1.2 billion worth of projects the Morrison Government committed leading up to the 2019 poll.
Work has yet to begin on any of the four commuter car parks promised, at Coomera, Mango Hill, Beenleigh and elsewhere.
But the Federal Government says it has been contributing to “shovel-ready projects” with the Queensland Government in the wake of the pandemic in a bid to create fast jobs.
The Courier-Mail has details of the projected timing of funding for the projects.
Several of the projects, including Boundary Road level crossing at Coopers Plains, Kenmore Roundabout and Gympie Arterial Road (Strathpine interchange), Chambers Flat Road are not due to have any significant funding until the 2022-23 financial year or beyond, which will put the timing after the next election.
Commuter car parks at Mango Hill, Beenleigh, Loganlea and Coomera, which all do not have major funding scheduled until after the next election.
There are currently 31 projects listed for Queensland under the Urban Congestion Fund project, according the departmental documents, with 26 of them listed as “in planning” almost two years on from the election.
The Federal Government’s contribution to the $1.2 billion in projects ranges from $1.7 million for $4.3 million Commercial Road-Doggett Street intersection at Newstead, to $96 million towards the $192 million M1 upgrade at exits 41 and 49.
Opposition infrastructure spokeswoman Catherine King says it is leaving Brisbane commuters stuck in traffic.
“Commuters in outer Brisbane spend 45 hours stuck in traffic every single year,” she said.
“For Brisbane commuters to spend more time at home with their families and less time behind the wheel the Government needs to invest in infrastructure, upgrading roads and upgrading public transport.”
A spokeswoman for Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said government wanted the commuter car parks completed as quickly as possible.
“Given the impacts of COVID-19, the Australian and Queensland governments jointly invested an additional $415 million to deliver shovel-ready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades across the state mid-last year to create even more jobs and strengthen the economy at this critical time,” he said.
URBAN CONGESTION FUND PROJECTS
26 of 31 projects still in planning
COMPLETED
• Commercial Rd – Doggett St intersection, Newstead
$1.7m in federal funding committed to $4m project
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
• Hoyland St, Bracken Ridge
$1m towards $12m project
• M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrade, Exit 41 and 49
$96m towards $192m project
• Oxley Drive-Brisbane Rd intersection
$5m to $10.7m project
• Williamson Rd-Days Rd, West Coomera
$1m to $1.3m project
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