Plans to widen Logan toll road under way

Land along the Logan Mwy will face potential impacts as Transurban investigates widening 10km of the toll road, promising faster trips. | VIDEO

Plans are being assessed to widen the Logan Mwy, which is a toll road owned by Transurban. Picture Transurban

Land owners along a stretch of the Logan Mwy have been told the state government and Transurban are investigating widening a 10km section of the busy road from Carole Park to Drewvale.

The upgrade plans, which were uncosted and in the preliminary stages, included building new lanes both ways between the Centenary Mwy and the Mt Lindesay Hwy.

Maps showed mainly commercial properties at Forest Lake, Heathwood, Forestdale, Hillcrest and Parkinson could be impacted by the plans.

Under the Transurban overhaul proposal, an extra westbound lane would also be built between Boundary Rd and Formation St.

A map showing the Logan Motorway with the Logan West upgrade section in green. Picture: Transurban

The Carole Park sewerage treatment plant is to the north with a Carole Park industrial estate and south of the road.

Transurban, which owned and managed the tollway, said the proposed Logan West Upgrade was anticipated to reduce travel times by up to 20 minutes during peak periods by 2031, just in time for the Olympics.

It also said the proposal would result in the removal of up to 6100 trucks and cars each day from local streets.

The Logan Mwy, which opened in 1988 and is a key link to Brisbane Airport and the Port of Brisbane, can carry 210,000 vehicles daily.

It costs $5.46 for a car which passes toll gates at Loganlea and Paradise Rd with tolls of up to $11.49 for heavy commercial trucks.

The state government will assess the impacts of Transurban’s proposal, when that proposal has been completed.

It was unknown how long the project would take to complete or whether it would continue if there were a change of government in October.

Transurban said it was too early to determine how many or which properties would have to be resumed or the impacts on houses, trees or businesses.

Transurban said significant work had been undertaken to ensure little or no residential property acquisitions would be required.

It said most of the land required for the Logan West Upgrade project was already within existing motorway reserve.

Transurban chief executive Michelle Jablko said more than $1 billion of freight was carted along the motorway each day.

“This project will cater for this future growth by significantly reducing travel times on a vital Brisbane freight route, improving road safety and supporting the area’s sustainable development,” he said.

An aerial view of the Formation St junction with houses on the northern side and industrial estates on the southern side. Picture: Google Maps

In a statement, the state government said it would not agree to fund any proposal which resulted in toll increases for ordinary motorists, including cars, utes and motorcycles.

Forestdale resident Lyn Stretton said she hoped any land resumptions would not include residential properties but said widening the highway would still affect land valuations.

“I don’t think widening the Logan Motorway will help because there is still a toll on it, which will only get more expensive and force more people to rat run along local streets,” she said.

“If they took the toll off, more people would use the entire motorway more often which would ease local congestion.

“With the new commercial estates being built in this area, it is likely more trucks will be using local roads and the extra noise will also affecting house and land values.”

The proposal will be put out to public consultation for community feedback with discussions with key industry stakeholders already under way.