Coopers Plains level crossing fix: State comes to party with $66m
A dangerous level crossing on Brisbane’s southside once ranked fifth worst in the state will finally get an overpass, after the State Government filled in the final piece of the funding puzzle, following Federal and Council commitments.
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A notorious level crossing on Brisbane’s southside once ranked as fifth-worst in the state and at which the local councillor says commuters regularly endure 15 – 20 minute waits will finally get an overpass after the State Government committed $66 million to the project.
Coopers Plains level crossing near the intersection of Boundary Rd and Orange Grove Rd has been a political football for decades, but massive steps were taken last year with Brisbane City Council pledging $40 million to the fix and the Federal Government tipping in $73 million.
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The new commitment swells the total kitty to $186 million, just shy of the $200 million the State Government has previously said is the estimate of the cost of an overpass.
The announcement comes just in the nick of time as Cross River Rail forges ahead, with Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow previously stating Beenleigh line services would be ramped up to every five minutes with commuter delays of up to 40 minutes.
A business case on the Boundary Rd level crossing is due for completion in mid-2021, according to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey..
Mr Bailey said the business case will “give us the final cost for (the) project” and was confident that work would commence during the next term of government, if Labor is re-elected.
He said this is the “first time” all three levels of government has come together with sizeable commitments on the Boundary Rd level crossing.
Coopers Plains Overpass Action Group spokeswoman Annamarie Newton, the owner of a local hospitality business, said she was “stoked” with the commitment after five hard years of campaigning.
“At different times of the year, I’ve had to go through this crossing up to eight times a day,” she said.
“If you’re local, if you’re a businessperson, if you live in the area, this has been on the books for 30-plus years.
“I’m rapt to see this going forward. Hopefully within this next term we will get it built.”
Moorooka Councillor Steve Griffiths has previously told the Courier Mail commuters were sometimes waiting up to 15 – 20 minutes at the crossing.
Member for Toohey Peter Russo said removing the Boundary Rd level crossing was the number one traffic issue locals raised in his community.
“Our government pushed the Boundary Rd project forward by doing the planning and getting the Federal Government to commit funding for it,” he said.
“Today’s $66 million commitment from the State Government means we’re closer to seeing work start to finally get rid of the level crossing.”
The announcement completes a trifecta of level crossing announcements across the city between all three levels of governments, with $233 million towards an overpass at Beams Rd, Carseldine and $165 million towards the Lindum level crossing at Wynnum West, which in the medium-term will likely only involve traffic lights.