Frecklington promises overpass to avoid one of Brisbane’s worst trafffic spots

Opposition leader aims to right traffic wrongs in a bid to win forthcoming election.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington has promised to stimulate the economy while busting up one of Brisbane’s biggest traffic bottlenecks.

The LNP leader said on Wednesday the junction of Gympie and Beams roads in Brisbane’s north had been identified as the third-worst congestion hotspot in Queensland by the RACQ.

The LNP, if elected, said the bottleneck in question would be fixed with a $90 million overpass across Gympie Rd at Carseldine.

Felice’s Barber Shop owner and operator Felice Sollari said his business, which operates at the infamous intersection in the Carseldine Central shopping centre, said his business was adversely affected by the heavy traffic.

“We 100 per cent need an overpass at this intersection,” he said.

“Customers tell me they get sick of sitting at those lights and they’ll do what they can to avoid them.

“I’ve been here two years and the traffic has only got worse as more houses go up in the area. The LNP will get my vote if they can actually make this happen,” Mr Felice said.

Carseldine Central shopping centre operates on at the intersection of Gympie and Beams roads.

Funding for the overpass would come from what the LNP has named the “SEQ Congestion Program”, which will comprise new roads and rail upgrades and create more than 3000 construction jobs across southeast Queensland.

“The LNP has a plan to stimulate the economy, drag Queensland out of recession and create a decade of secure jobs,” Ms Frecklington said.

“I want to build Queensland out of recession by delivering new infrastructure.

“There are more than 200,000 Queenslanders out of work, so the LNP will get shovels in the ground in Carseldine as soon as possible.

“The Morrison Coalition Government has given us the JobKeeper and JobSeeker safety nets – this will be a Queensland LNP JobMaker scheme,” she said.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington promises to deliver an overpass at the intersection of Gympie and Beams roads if the LNP is elected. Picture: Matt Taylor

Earlier this month the RACQ revealed that each kilometre of Gympie Rd between Beams Rd and Albany Creek Rd cost the local economy almost $850,000 last year.

Under the LNP’s proposal, traffic using Beams Rd would be carried over Gympie Rd via a newly-built overpass.

Existing traffic lights on Gympie Rd would be removed and traffic would still be able to turn onto Beams Rd and vice versa.

The Gympie Rd/Beams Rd overpass is the second major project to be announced under the SEQ Congestion Program.

The LNP also promised to invest $245 million in the erection of a duplicate Centenary Bridge at Jindalee, which would also fall under the infrastructure program.