Lendlease permitted to work 16 hours a day on Kingsford Smith Drive

A construction giant has been given the green light to work until 10pm every weekday in some of Brisbane’s most up-market suburbs. But residents are not the only ones suffering as the race to finish the upgrade of Kingsford Smith Drive continues.

THERE will be little chance to rest for residents of several up-market Brisbane suburbs after a construction giant gained approval to pound, drill and dig for 16 hours every weekday.

From July 8, Lendlease will be permitted to work from 6am until 10pm on the already overdue Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade at Hamilton.

The approval is well outside the Brisbane City Council’s regulated ‘audible noise’ restrictions for building works, which are only permitted between 6.30am-6.30pm.

The green light for Lendlease’s working hours leaves just enough time for residents to get an eight nap before workers begin their shift each weekday morning.

Construction will also be permitted between 8am and 5pm on Saturday, while the intersection with Racecourse Rd will be closed completely on five weekends over a five month period starting on July 5.

Racecourse Rd retailers claim they were blindsided by the changes which were relayed to them by Lendlease representatives last Monday.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said Cr David McLachlan only knew about the road closures and detours days after businesses were briefed and them immediately placed them on social media. Picture: Chris McCormack.

Local councillor David McLachlan only found out about the road detours last Thursday, according to a council spokesman.

“Lendlease communicated these necessary closures and detours, that commence in July, with local residents and businesses in recent days,” he said.

“Councillor David McLachlan said he was advised of the detours necessary for delivery of the works (Thursday) and immediately posted all information available to him on Facebook, and now has the Lendlease fact sheets available in his Ward office.”

To fast-track the works, which include installing stormwater drainage and underground facilities, left-hand turns into, and out of, Racecourse Rd will be prohibited.

Right-hand turns off KSD into Riverview Terrace, which runs behind the Hamilton Hotel, will also be banned.

A diagram of the closures and detours associated with the banning of left hand turns into, and out of, Racecourse from Kingsford Smith Drive from the first weekend in July. Pic: BCC

The changed traffic conditions and extended construction hours are expected to last until Christmas, but its little comfort for Racecourse Rd businesses already reeling from the impact of the $650 million project.

Motorists will be redirected through side streets meaning fewer cars, and ultimately fewer consumers, use Racecourse Rd, said Ingrid Steven, the CEO of Racecourse Road Dental.

“This street is already a ghost town and this is only going to make it harder for businesses which have already been heavily affected,” Ms Steven said.

Ingrid Steven from Racecourse Road Dental, says the road closures and detours are going to hurt retailers and businesses. Picture: Richard Walker

Gateway users heading southbound along KSD, off the Gateway, will have to use Nudgee Rd to reach Hendra, Hamilton or Ascot.

Otherwise, motorists will have to travel a further two kilometres and turn right at Cooksley St near Albion Park harness track to either retrace their steps or snake their way through the side streets.

Racecourse Rd businesses fear shoppers will either head to Racecourse Village, opposite Doomben Racecourse, or avoid the shopping strip altogether, said Ms Steven.

“It’s very short notice and it’s caught us all by surprise,” Ms Steven said.

“Our concern is the diversion to send people up Nudgee Rd and if it’s such a big detour, people are not going to bother coming here, they will go somewhere else where it is more convenient.

Cafe owner David Ariza only heard of the sudden closure of Racecourse Rd entry off Kingsford Smith Drive when a Lend Lease representative visited last week. Pic: Darren Cartwright

Petrichor & Co cafe owner David Ariza said he opened about the same time the KSD upgrade began in earnest in 2016 and has put up with dust, noise and smell from the roadworks.

“It’s hard to get people to come to this end of the street because of the way the road is and closing the street is not going to be good for us … we have had dust, noise and water smell … now more pain,’ he said.

The council spokesman said the closures and traffic changes were to allow numerous underground services, many first constructed in the 19th century, to be urgently upgraded.

“Council and Lendlease, who is delivering the project, have been openly communicating with residents and key stakeholders every step of the way through this congestion-busting project and every effort will be made to reduce any impacts on nearby residents and businesses’” he said.

Construction on the KSD upgrade started in early 2016 and was due to be delivered this year but it’s expected it will not open in full until well into 2020.

The project involves widening 3.3km of road from 4 to 6 lanes and upgrading associated river parklands, walkways and cycle paths.