Telegraph Rd Corridor Upgrade complete and $100 million under budget

A major road project through Brisbane’s north is complete and more than $100 million under budget.

A MAJOR road project through Brisbane’s north is complete and more than $100 million under budget.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will announce today that the final stage of Telegraph Rd is $67.3 million under budget, adding to $26.1 million saved on Stage 1a and $7.1 million saved on Stage 1b.

It means the total cost of the road was $159.5 million, down from the original $260 million budget.

Milestone reached in Telegraph Road corridor upgrade | The Courier-Mail

An artist impression of Brisbane City Council's Telegraph Road Corridor Upgrade. Picture: Brisbane City Council

“Works on the second stage of the Telegraph Road Corridor Upgrade commenced in mid-2017 and thanks to Council’s prudent project management, the $140 million second stage has been delivered on time and more than $67 million under its original budget,” Cr Quirk said.

“Savings were captured through procurement, with the contract costing $24.5 million less than anticipated, as well as a $3 million reduction due to remediation not being required for the former landfill.”

Trees along Depot Rd were removed for Stage 2 of the Telegraph Road corridor upgrade in Bracken Ridge.

The upgrade widened the 4.3km corridor to four lanes, improved its flood-resilience and installed new pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.

Other key parts of the project were the removal of the roundabout at Telegraph Rd, Lemke Rd and Depot Rd, which was replaced with with traffic lights, and a new four lane bridge built over Cabbage Tree Creek.

He said the savings would be reinvested into citywide projects, including upgrades at Green Camp Rd, Waterworks Rd and Wolston Creek Bridge.

Roadworks surround the Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge roundabout.

Infrastructure chairman Amanda Cooper, who is the councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward, said Telegraph Rd had been operating at capacity with more than 25,000 vehicles using the road every day.

“More than 60,000 cubic metres of fill and a new 70 metre bridge were shipped in, laying the foundations for the 41,500 vehicles that are expected to use this corridor once the Gateway North upgrade is completed,” Cr Cooper said.

The Telegraph Road Corridor Upgrade began in 2013 and included the replacement of the Telegraph Rd open level crossing.