Government’s $10m masterplan outlines how to fix one of Queensland’s worst roads
A $10 million masterplan has revealed some potential fixes for horrific congestion on one of the southeast’s most clogged roads. SEE THE DETAILS
South West
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The Federal Government will spend $10 million on a masterplan looking into fixes for the congested Toowong to Darra section of the Centenary Motorway, which has the slowest inbound peak hour speeds anywhere in Brisbane.
The updated motorway masterplan outlines measures to improve safety, travel-time reliability and efficiency on an arterial road which has made it to the RACQ’s top 10 most-congested roads every year for a decade.
An $80 million upgrade of the Sumners Rd Interchange at Jamboree Heights was opened six months ahead of schedule in March 2021, with construction of a duplicate Centenary Bridge and a wider, $244 million six-lane crossing scheduled to start this year.
The masterplan states the motorway would be upgraded in stages as funding became available, with the Jindalee bridge widening forming stage one.
It will also identify the most effective “staging approach’’ to deliver the motorway upgrade, between Frederick St in Toowong and the Ipswich Motorway in Darra.
The RACQ’s 2021 congestion report found the Centenary Motorway, between the Ipswich Motorway and Dandenong St, had the lowest inbound peak hour speeds in Brisbane, with cars moving at an average speed of 39.9kmh.
Outbound speeds on the stretch from Moggill Rd to Fig Tree Pocket Rd were even slower at 28.4kmh.
State Labor MP for Mount Ommaney, Jess Pugh, said the $10 million masterplan was “big news’’ for locals.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is also in the design phase for the Centenary and Logan Motorways interchange upgrade, while a tender has been released for planning to improve a 30km stretch of the Centenary Highway further southwest, between Darra and Yamanto.
Gregory Miszkowycz, RACQ traffic and safety engineering manager, said the organisation had been campaigning for upgrades to the Centenary Motorway between Darra and Toowong for several years.
“It is under immense pressure and during peak times is one of the slowest highway commutes in southeast Queensland,” he said.
“It also received the second highest number of nominations by frustrated motorists in RACQ’s 2021 Red Spot Congestion survey, following the Bruce Highway.
“With expected population growth in the west and Ipswich, additional lanes, interchange and safety upgrades between (the) Ipswich Motorway and Toowong are desperately needed.”
Mr Miszkowycz said he would also like to see progress on other transport options, such as the Ipswich to Springfield public transport corridor project.
“We need these projects to happen as soon as possible to help relieve congestion and delays on the Centenary Mwy and to provide efficient, safe road networks and sustainable transport options for all commuters,” he said.
State LNP MP for Moggill, Christian Rowan, said the masterplan was merely re-announced federal funding, first allocated for a business case, the last step before going out to tender.
“The Government has now downgraded this funding to be used for another planning study, instead of a full business case, which shows that Labor do not think that the Centenary Motorway upgrade is important,’’ he said.
“This could have been $10 million to advance an upgrade. Instead, it will be $10 million on more years of Labor delays.”
Dr Rowan said Brisbane’s western suburbs needed “comprehensive funding for solutions to bust traffic congestion, enhance public and active transport, and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.”
“There is still no transparency from the State Labor Government on the status of the Kenmore Roundabout Upgrade Project, let alone any progression on the Mount Crosby Rd-Warrego highway interchange upgrade,” he said.
“Local residents of the western suburbs of Brisbane deserve better.”
But Mr Bailey said the LNP’s record on infrastructure, when last in office, was to cut $1.6 billion from the transport and roads budget.
“Right now, the Palaszczuk Government is focused on delivering two major projects on the Centenary Motorway, while planning for the future,’’ Mr Bailey said.
“Later this year construction will be getting under way on the $244 million Centenary Bridge duplication, of which we are contributing more than half of the funding, and the $15 million Centenary Motorway and Logan Motorway interchange upgrade, which we are fully funding.
“This follows last year’s completion of the $80 million Sumners Road Interchange upgrade on the Centenary Motorway, five months early, which the LNP cut when last in office.
“It also follows last year’s completion of the $400 million Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Darra and Rocklea which has helped ease congestion.’’
Mr Bailey said the first priority was duplicating the Centenary Bridge as that would help unlock any future expansions of the Centenary Motorway.
“However, we are already planning for potential expansions through two planning projects worth $11 million, which will help us identify where future upgrades are needed,’’ he said.
“There is also a $25 million planning project under way for the Kenmore Roundabout.
“In terms of the Mount Crosby Road interchange, it is currently going through a new planning phase after the majority of the community requested changes.
“We’ve listened to their feedback. As always, we listen to the community when delivering major infrastructure.’’
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