Report shows Centenary Motorway commute keeps getting longer

The RACQ has called on the State Government for action after a new report shows average commute times on Brisbane’s slowest motorway for peak hour traffic have increased by nine minutes since 2018.

IF YOU feel that your commute along the Centenary Motorway just keeps getting longer, you would be right, by about nine minutes.

The extra time was revealed in a recent report from the RACQ showing commuting times for the year.

In response the motoring body has called on the State Government to commit to an upgrade of the Centenary Motorway, as the latest data showed motorists commuting to and from Brisbane’s western suburbs were suffering.

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The RACQ’s September Travel Time report found weekday average speeds on

Brisbane’s motorways had slowed on many stretches when compared with the same time

last year, and the Centenary Motorway was the slowest of them all in both the morning and

afternoon peaks.

Premier and Inala MP Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government had committed close to $100 million in upgrades along the Centenary Motorway.

The slow morning drive to work inbound at Jindalee.

“This includes the $80 million Sumners Road interchange which we’ve fully-funded creating 105 jobs,” she said.

Work is progressing with footings and columns installed for the new two-lane eastbound bridge connecting Jamboree Heights to Darra.

State MP for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh said she was also working to overcome the congestion issues.

“That’s why I asked the Main Roads Minister to fast track the preparation of planning works to upgrade the Jindalee Bridge, a key chokepoint,” she said.

“I fought to secure funding for the $80 million Sumner Road Interchange Upgrade, which is now underway and now we have a costing for the Centenary Motorway Jindalee Bridge Upgrade.

“I’ll be asking the Minister to push this project to the top of the pile.”

The RACQ’s Renee Smith said on some sections of the Centenary Motorway on average an

extra almost nine minutes was added to an already sluggish commute.

“The State Government needs to commit to funding upgrades of the Centenary,” she said.

“The more time we spend talking about this, the longer western suburbs motorists will suffer.

“We need action.

“Work is needed all the way along the motorway, from Ipswich Motorway to Legacy Way,

increasing capacity to at least six lanes.

“We also need better public transport options to reduce demand on roads – more frequent

and reliable bus services to the CBD and buses that link up with rail.”

Ms Smith said the nearby Pacific Motorway south of Gaza Road to 1km south of Juliette

Street experienced the largest reduction in speeds in the past year, with average travel

speeds dropping from 50km/h to just 40km/h.

“This is Queensland’s busiest road and it’s over-capacity and struggling to cope with demand

during peak times,” she said.

“The saving grace for the Pacific Motorway is we have a number of upgrades either

underway or in planning stage so congestion relief is on the way.”

*Data provided to RACQ by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.