56km/h in 100 zone — our most urgent road upgrades

A new report warns that average speeds on one of southeast Queensland’s most critical arterial roads will drop to 56km/h as it identifies the state roads that are a “high priority” to fix.

CONDITIONS on a major road network in Queensland linking freight routes and communities has deteriorated to the point it has become a national high priority to fix, Infrastructure Australia will reveal today.

Meanwhile, the independent body is continuing to warn that average speeds will drop on the Pacific Motorway at Logan to just 56km/hour unless action is taken.

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The Infrastructure Australia report outlines fixing the state’s National Land Transport Network as Queensland’s only new “high priority” initiative to be listed.

Nearly a fifth of the 5000km road network, which connects Mount Isa, Longreach, and Cairns to Brisbane and beyond, has been identified for maintenance and rehabilitation.

The road network includes the Flinders, Barkly, Landsborough and Bruce highways.

“The poor condition of roads has increased costs to communities and the freight industry by increasing travel times, creating safety risks and reducing network resilience,” the report says.

It says the Queensland Government has identified 885km as high priority for maintenance, with the cost to rise significantly if not addressed urgently.

No total funding required was listed.

Infrastructure Australia also listed as new priorities, but lower ranked, the Gold Coast light rail stage 3A to Burleigh Heads, and $2 billion in upgrades to the Bruce Highway and Pacific Motorway.

Average speeds on the Pacific Motorway at Logan will drop from 70km/h to just 56km/h by 2041 if to Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill section is not fixed by adding additional lanes.

The section between Varsity Lakes and Tugun is also recommended for upgrade, as well as sections of the Bruce Highway at the Sunshine Coast and at Cairns between Edmonton and Gordonvale.

“Without intervention, this traffic growth would lead to severe congestion and poorer safety conditions on the road,” the report states.

The case for the Gold Coast light rail stage 3A depends on urban renewal and increased urban density in the areas to make it viable.

Originally published as 56km/h in 100 zone — our most urgent road upgrades