Hamilton roads to close for Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade

RESIDENTS on three separate streets of an upmarket Brisbane suburb will have their direct access to a key thoroughfare cut off this month to make way for major roadworks.

Three streets in the blue chip suburb of Hamilton will need to close, one for up to eight months, to make way for the $650 million Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade. Photographer: Liam Kidston

HAMILTON residents on three streets will have their direct access to Kingsford Smith Drive cut off for months to make way for the $650 million upgrade works.

Riverview Tce will close on July 23 for up to eight months, Oxford St will close on July 18 for up to two months and Day St will close on July 29 for up to five weeks.

All closures are at the Kingsfor Smith Drive end of the streets.

SEE ALTERNATIVE ACCESS MAPS BELOW

Councillor David McLachlan (Hamilton) assured residents the project to widen Kingsford Smith Drive from four to six lanes was running on time and would deliver “great outcomes”.

“We ask for the patience of residents in the short term because the long term benefits will be there for everyone to see by the end of 2019,” he said.

The council says the upgrade will save buses, cars and trucks 30 per cent on their current travel times and provide an “entry statement” to Brisbane.

The opposition maintained similar travel time savings could have been achieved with three intersection upgrades worth $150m, and even pledged to scrap the project at the last election.

Cr David McLachlan has asked residents to be patient about the short term inconvenience of construction work on Kingsford Smith Drive.

Cr McLachlan said such closures had been happening progressively along the road to allow stormwater infrastructure and other underground services to be installed.

He said there would “no doubt” be inconvenience to residents but assured them alternative access to their homes would be maintained.

A community notice from Lendlease, contracted by Brisbane City Council to deliver the upgrade, stated the Riverview Tce works required major excavations and significant work underneath the road.

“Keeping Riverview Tce open would require these works to be completed on night shift over 10 months using high impact equipment such as road saws, jackhammers and excavators,” it stated.

Lendlease promised pedestrian and driveway access would be maintained at all sites at all times, under traffic control if needed.

Oxford St at Kingsford Smith Drive will close for up to two months from July 18, with alternative access via College St. Picture: Lendlease

Riverview Terrace at Kingsford Smith Drive will close for eight months on July 23. Map: Lendlease

Day St at Kingsford Smith Drive will close for up to five weeks on July 29. Map: Lendlease