Nine traffic hot spots set for congestion busting funds

We can reveal the first nine Brisbane traffic hot spots set for a $115 million congestion-busting overhaul. And the best bit is work is starting soon.

CONSTRUCTION to fix nine of Brisbane’s most notorious traffic hot spots will start within 12 months under a $4 billion Morrison Government fund to ease urban congestion.

The Urban Congestion Fund set up last year has earmarked a string of projects such as intersection and roundabout upgrades to ease worsening traffic woes across southeast Queensland.

Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge said kicking off construction on nine projects, revealed today and worth a combined $115.5 million, in an agreement with the Brisbane City Council, was one of his top priorities for Brisbane.

“These projects will bust congestion, they will deliver lifesaving road safety improvements and they will bolster commuter and freight connections that underpin the state and national economies,” he said.

“The Morrison Government promised we will get the people of Brisbane home sooner and safer, and we will deliver.”

The move follows Opposition infrastructure, transport and regional development spokeswoman Catherine King questioning the government last week about why none of the projects under the fund announced nearly 18 months ago had started.

“Prime Minister Morrison used the Urban Congestion Fund as a key campaigning opportunity fully aware no work was underway and nothing would start for months or years,” she said.

The Federal Government is providing the majority of funding but must reach agreement with state governments and councils, which are responsible for delivering the projects, before construction can begin.

Traffic gridlock on Beams Rd at Carseldine could be a thing of the past. Picture: Darren England.

Construction on all projects is set to begin within the next 12 to 24 months.

Much of the work on Brisbane’s northside centres around Bracken Ridge with intersection upgrades and a $50 million improvement of Beams Rd.

Projects in Mt Gravatt and Rochedale on the southside will focus on intersection upgrades as will an upgrade of the Commercial Rd and Doggett St crossing at Newstead.

The Indooroopilly roundabout in the city’s west will undergo a $25 million revamp.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he wanted to “get residents out of traffic and able to spend more time doing what they love”.

“I have a clear vision for the future of our city and we are committed to managing growth, building better transport networks while protecting our fantastic quality of life,” he said.