$400m Labor pitch to fix Brisbane’s 5 worst level crossings

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has branded Labor opponent Patrick Condren’s $410 million plan to bust congestion around level crossings a con, as he hit out at the State Government for not stumping up cash.

LORD Mayor Adrian Schrinner has branded Labor opponent Patrick Condren’s $410 million plan to bust congestion around level crossings a “con”, as he hit out at the State Government for not stumping up cash.

The Labor lord mayoral candidate today committed to completing three road projects around level crossings in his first term in office, and to kickstart construction on another two by mid-2024, if he wins the city’s top job next month.

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Cr Schrinner said today his administration had already committed $40 million for every level crossing plan the State Government moved ahead with.

“What we’ve been waiting for since then is for the state to actually put their money on the table and to move forward with a list of priorities,” he said.

“This is basically a con. It is the State Labor Government that is holding up the whole process here.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey welcomed Mr Condren’s announcement, and said the Government would await business case studies for several level crossings before committing to any specific funding.

He said he supported Mr Condren’s proposal to make each level of Government fund a third of the projects each, describing it as “sensible”.

Mr Condren today announced a Labor council would more than double the council’s current funding commitment for the three projects.

This would include major roads projects at Beams Rd, Carseldine; Boundary Rd, Coopers Plains; and ­Lindum rail crossing, Hemmant.

Traffic congestion at the Coorparoo level crossing

Under Labor’s pledge, construction would also begin on projects at Warrigal Rd, Runcorn, and Cavendish Rd, Coorparoo, by 2024.

“I want to kickstart and complete construction on Brisbane’s congestion hot spots so that commuters in Brisbane’s suburbs get home to their families in a safe and timely manner,” Mr Condren said.

“Traffic data shows that these level crossings can add up to half an hour to your daily commute, and that’s just not good enough.”

Mr Condren will await the results of planning studies, including several that are already under way before committing to any specific details.

Planning studies to tackle congestion at South Pine Rd at Alderley, Northgate Rd at Northgate and Bilson Rd at Geebung would also be finalised by 2024 under a Labor administration.

A Labor council would contribute about $410 million to the plan – or about a third – while seeking the rest from the State and Federal governments.

Originally published as $400m Labor pitch to fix Brisbane’s 5 worst level crossings