Public transport, toll roads, street parking to be free as southeast battles gridlock

Public transport and toll roads will be free in South East Queensland for the next four days as some train services come back online from Thursday, following devastating floods that caused traffic gridlock.

Motorists have been urged to stay off roads if possible after a second consecutive day of traffic chaos around Brisbane.

Public transport will be free in South East Queensland for the next four days from midnight tonight.

Tolls will be free through to midnight Sunday as well, and it will it be backdated through to 8am Wednesday. Some train services will also be back up and running come Thursday.

The public transport and toll developments come after Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced yesterday street parking meters switched off for the month of February would remain free for the coming weeks to support the community and encourage people to spend that money at local businesses.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said a lot of roads started to open up on Wednesday.

He confirmed that tolls would be free on all tollways in South East Queensland, including the Toowoomba bypass, through to midnight on Sunday.

Public transport will also be free in the region until midnight Sunday.

TransLink ha also issued an update on train services, saying that some services will resume from Thursday.

Some train services will be back up and running from Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jono Searle

Public transport had been temporarily suspended in South East Queensland as a result of the intense rainfall and flooding that the region received this week.

From tomorrow some train services will resume on a Saturday timetable, although not all lines and stations will run.

Due to ongoing flooding, Gold Coast services won’t be coming online tomorrow.

All stations on the Airport, Caboolture, Doomben, Redcliffe Peninsula and Springfield lines will be operational .

Stations from Trinder Park to Beenleigh will not be in service on the Beenleigh line, while stops between Wynnum North and Cleveland haven’t been repaired on the Cleveland line.

The Ferny Grove line will operate between Keperra and Central station, with Ferny Grove station the only station on that line still needing repair.

The Ipswich/Rosewood line will be operational between Ipswich and Central stations, but stations between Thomas Street and Rosewood still need to be repaired.

Bindah to Shorncliffe stations still need to be repaired on the Shorncliffe line, while Nambour to Gympie North stations remain out of action on the Sunshine Coast line.

TransLink have also reported that these services will need to follow speed restrictions which may lead to some disruptions.

TransLink will provide updates on services later in the week.

Mr Bailey urged commuters to check their line to see if it would be operational.

“We’ll be running as much as we possibly can,” he said.

The Minister said this would reduce some of the traffic on the Pacific Motorway, Bruce Highway and elsewhere.

More services would become operational as the damage throughout the region is assessed.

“What we’ll see is increasingly buses return as more roads open up and flood water recedes and they’re cleared to go,” Mr Bailey said.

“But we’ll also see some trains return tomorrow as well which will be really welcome news I think for everybody.

“Some of our roadways were really clogged pretty heavy with traffic this morning.

“Some of that was because we were unable to get the train system up and running.”

Mr Bailey said the train system would be opened in a “reduced format”.

“You will need to check the details in terms of whether your station will be open and whether your part of the line will be open,” the Minister said.

“It’s the best we can do at this point.”

It comes amid crippling gridlock as Brisbane commuters attempt to get to and from work amid flooded roads and a depleted public transport system.

Traffic built up along Brisbane's Riverside Expressway early on Wednesday afternoon after a car broke down near the Turbot St Exit.

The expressway has been congested for most of the day, as it is one of the only main roads allowing access into the inner city from the south due to the closure of the Go Between Bridge and Coronation Drive.

Traffic delays are expected to increase further during peak hour this afternoon, likely putting the city back into gridlock.

Traffic was again at a standstill through parts of inner Brisbane on Wednesday morning as motorists attempted to navigate flood road closures, with major delays experienced on the Pacific Motorway and Legacy Way.

A multi-vehicle crash on the Pacific Motorway at Stapylton on the Gold Coast exacerbated problems, with traffic coming to a complete standstill.

The crash happened just after southbound Exit 38 about 10.15am, with traffic slowly being diverted around the crash zone.

Congestion was already rife along the M1 due to flooding and road closures in Beenleigh and Yatala areas, with traffic delays reaching over an hour between Loganholme and Staplyton.

Some motorists have been diverted via Exit 38, which remains open; however, traffic is moving extremely slowly through the exit.

Motorists planning to travel to the Gold Coast from Brisbane should allow for at least two hours’ travel time.

It is not yet confirmed exactly how many cars were involved in the crash.

Paramedics assessed four people at the scene and have transported two people to the Gold Coast Private Hospital, both in a stable condition.

It came as Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced tolls would be suspended on council-controlled roads until Sunday.

Council will cover the cost for the CLEM7, Legacy Way and the Go Between Bridge.

Mayor Schrinner said he made the decision to cover the toll costs due to ongoing traffic issues.

He asked that motorists still avoid unnecessary travel, saying just dropping the tolls will not fix the issue entirely.

Continuing road closures around greater Brisbane are creating chaos on roads for the second consecutive day. Picture: Brad Fleet

Police have acknowledged the issues, with schools reopening adding to the issues.

Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder said tidal flooding was still an issue in some parts and urged parents to drive with extra caution and plan ahead.

“Our concern is that back to school is always a busy time on our roads, and so too now that people are going back to the office,” Chief Supt Rohweder said.

“People will be hurrying, but this is not the time to hurry. There are significant traffic issues in southeast Queensland at the moment, and we are worried about people running late and deciding to take chances. It’s those chances that can claim lives.

“People are under a lot of stress as it is, so I plead with people to give yourselves plenty of time to get to where you need to be, check for road closures and plan your trip.”

It’s expected road closures will be in place for several more days, as Transport and Main Roads will need to assess the damage and stability of our roads once tides have lowered.

“I really plead with people at this particular time in Brisbane’s history to just be patient, plan your trip and be patient,” Chief Supt Rohweder said.

It’s the second consecutive day of major delays on Brisbane roads.

Chaotic traffic conditions have been thrown into further disarray after road closures in the Airport Link Tunnel.

The southbound exit ramp to Lutwyche Rd has been closed and traffic is being diverted to exits at Campbell St and the Inner City Bypass. Traffic in the tunnel has slowed to a crawl.

Travellers coming into the city from the Gold Coast today are facing two-hour delays on the Pacific Motorway, with traffic reaching standstill between Pimpama and Underwood.

The southbound Logan Motorway is heavily congested coming off the Ipswich Mwy through to Beaudesert Rd.

Waterford Tamborine Rd also remains closed between Logan Village and Easterly St, as is the majority of Loganlea Rd and Logan River Rd between Tygum Rd through to Castille Cres. This is causing significant congestion along the Pacific Motorway.

Those who have made it into Brisbane city are facing excessive delays on Legacy Way starting from the Western Freeway through to the closed Inner City Bypass turn-off at Campbell St.

Traffic congestion is being experienced much of greater Brisbane for the second day in a row. File picture

The Inner City Bypass is flooded and has been closed in both directions at the Breakfast Creek Tunnel, as has the CLEM7 off ramp at Bowen Hills.

Hale St has been reopened via a left turn onto Riverside Expressway, which has alleviated some congestion however, northbound motorists are still facing back-to-back traffic on the Pacific Motorway from Holland Park West through to Coronation Drive.

Coronation Drive remains closed at the Go Between Bridge and again between Lang Pde and Sylvan Rd.

The city’s major networks are experiencing an increase in volume due to the flooding of Brisbane’s non-arterial roads, forcing motorists to use the smaller arterial roads.

More than 21 key roads closed in the inner city, mainly non-arterial connection roads, with 85 road closures in the Greater Brisbane area.

Heavy traffic continues to build along key roads in Red Hill, Paddington and Bardon as people make their way into the city, with congestion on Herston Rd, Enoggera Rd, Waterworks Rd, Jubilee and MacGregor Tce.
Sandgate Rd is congested at Nundah and Clayfield with traffic now building on Junction Rd.

Milton Rd has been cut off from Aldridge St through to Upper Roma, causing further delays on Beard St and Baroona Rd.

Brooke St is experiencing delays in both directions, as is Chester St and parts of Wickham St, with traffic now backing onto Gregory Terrace.
Breakfast Creek Rd is also closed in both directions at Edmonston Rd, affecting Kingsford Smith Dr.

Transport Main Roads and Brisbane City Council workers continue to assess the major infrastructure road and bridge conditions to revisit the existing closures.
Motorists have been advised to obey signage, be patient and not ignore road closures and cone placement while travelling in the city.

Originally published as Public transport, toll roads, street parking to be free as southeast battles gridlock