New ‘busway’ to reduce lane width along Gympie Rd by three metres

Motorists are set to feel the squeeze as lane widths are collectively reduced by three metres on one of Brisbane’s busiest commuter routes to make way for a controversial new traffic project, while local businesses fear their livelihoods will be under threat.

THE squeeze is on for motorists along one of the busiest sections of Gympie Rd with up to three metres being shaved off six lanes to make way for the controversial Northern Transitway.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has confirmed that each of the six lanes along Gympie Rd would be reduced from approximately 3.6m (in sections) to 3.1m, while the Northern Transitway (NT) would be 3.5m wide.

‘Gobsmacked’ business owners slam MP for failing to show at Northern Transitway meeting

The NT is effectively a 24/7 express bus lane that limousines, taxis and cyclists will be permitted to use.

It extends 2.3km and will replace the parking shoulder from Sadlier St, Kedron to Hamilton Rd, Chermside on each side of the road.

An artist's impression of the bus lane along Gympie Rd which also mean the removal of the Strathmore St bus stop and the one on the opposite side of the road outside Coles. Pic: The Courier-Mail

Despite the $53 million project being created to primarily service buses, two stops will be removed and buses drivers will not be compelled to use it.

“Buses including express buses, when safe to do so, can merge into traffic and overtake other vehicles,” a TMR spokesman said.

“The proposed design provides a lane width of 3.5 metres for bus lanes and 3.1 metres wide for general traffic lanes.”

The TMR could not offer how much time buses would save during peak-hour and non-peak hour when NT complete.

Besides lane width reductions, the plan also includes the removal of two bus stops and the banning of right-hand turns out of five side streets.

The right-hand bans will leave dozens of stressed residents less than 100m to cross the NT and three general lanes to make a U-turn at the nearest set of traffic lights.

Signs protesting against a 24/7 bus lane have been placed along Gympie Rd. Pic: Darren Cartwright

The Brisbane City Council is against the transitway and the banning of right-hand turns because it will create rat-runs and congestion through side streets.

Local councillor Fiona Hammond said she had fielded calls from concerned residents about the volume of traffic that would be created in side streets because of right-hand turn bans.

“They are already asking if we have done any studies about how much traffic will increase and what traffic calming measures will be put in place,” Ms Hammond said.

Motoring lobby group RACQ has thrown its support behind the project, even going so far as to praise the widening of footpaths to accommodate bike riders, even though cyclists are permitted to use the transitway.

Councillor Fiona Hammond said residents are concerned about the increase in local traffic once right-hand turns are banned from five side streets. Picture: Supplied

RACQ Head of Public Policy Dr Rebecca Michael said they would “investigate options” at the intersections where right-hand turns were being banned.

She did not directly answer whether the lane width reduction would make it more difficult for motorbike riders to filter through congested traffic or if they were concerned about the lack of width for semi-trailers using the major arterial road.

Dr Michael compared the lane reduction to Mains Rd, Sunnybank which is also a dual carriageway with approximately 3.1m wide lanes although it only has a peak hour transit lane.

“While full lane widths are preferable, due to the constraints of the existing road corridor, reducing the lane width is manageable, and we see other bus corridors around Brisbane manage with similar lane widths,” Dr Michael said.

The NT proposal has local business leaders are in fear of losing their livelihoods when parking is eliminated along Gympie Rd.

Business leader Yvette Cottrill said peak hour bus lane made sense but a 24/7 express lane was overkill and unnecessary given mobile speed cameras are regularly deployed on weekends to catch speeding motorists. Pic: Darren Cartwright

Consign-A- Car owner Yvette Cottrill said a peak hour express bus lane had merit but removing all parking 24/7 was overkill and unnecessary.

She said speed cameras are deployed weekly along the section of Gympie Rd between Kitchener and Rode Rds which contradicts the need for an express lane to bust non-existent congestion.

“If it’s so busy along here, why do they have speed cameras here almost every weekend,” she said.

“I can understand making it a peak hour express lane but there’s no need for it to be every hour of every day.”

Ms Cottrill and Kedron newsagent Peter Lincoln will meet with local MP and Mine Minister Anthony Lynham this afternoon to express concerns about the pain it will cause local businesses.

Shadow Transport Minister Steve Minnikin said community consultation should go back to the drawing board. AAP/Sarah Marshall

LNP shadow minister for Transport and Main Roads Steve Minnikin said the community consultation process needed to go back to the “drawing board” because it did not address, but add to, the traffic chaos on Brisbane’s north side.

He said the LNP, if it won office next year, would revisit the project.

“We will assess whether projects such as this will actually reduce congestion or only make things worse,” Mr Minnikin said.

TMR has held two information meetings on the NT with another two set down at Kedron State School today and Saturday.