What you said about plans for a new tunnel in Brisbane to ease traffic congestion

A tunnel to bust congestion, or just digging a bigger hole for Queensland? HAVE YOUR SAY

A tunnel to bust congestion, or just digging a bigger hole for Queensland?

Opinions are divided after it was revealed a tunnel linking Toowong to Darra, allowing motorists to bypass the Centenary Motorway, will be investigated amid an expected surge in Brisbane traffic across the coming decade.

But it means a masterplan of the Centenary Motorway corridor, meant to be out by the end of the year, will be pushed back as the government looks into the tunnel option.

Premier Steven Miles, alongside Transport Minister Bart Mellish, announced $10m set aside in the budget would be used to look into the viability of a tunnel against further expansion of the existing motorway.

The state government, through the Queensland Investment Corporation, is already investigating a tolled tunnel linking Kedron to Carseldine. The latest move to bypass the Centenary Motorway will be investigated by the same QIC architects looking into the Gympie Rd tunnel.

Traffic on the Centenary Motorway at Jindalee.

The Centenary Motorway carries more than 90,000 vehicles a day on average in some sections, with the figures slated to rise to a whopping 152,000 by 2036.

It’s hoped a tunnel, linking up to Legacy Way and to the Ipswich Motorway, would allow local traffic to use the Centenary Motorway with less congestion while those going through the area travel underground.

Readers were quick to give their thoughts – some claimed the money could be better spent in the regions, going as far as to revive the two-state idea.

Others, though, insisted it was another misstep by Labor ahead of the state election in October.

While a range of other ideas were floated in a bid to address looming traffic issues.

Brisbane has been named one of the worst city’s in the world for traffic, with a growing population expected to make the situation worse.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Another Labor joke

The Craw

Election stunt.

Linda

Yes it may be on the tarot cards but it’s only really a vote generating idea without any substance! Typical Labor campaigning.

Ross

Will this be before or after the Olympics?

Lucky for voters Queensland is loaded and can afford all of these works.

Western Rod

If liebor is going to dig a tunnel what is the duplicate bridge on the Centenary motorway over river for being built now for.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish, left, and Premier Steven Miles, centre, in Mount Ommaney on Sunday to announce the possibility of a new tunnel. Picture: John Gass

I have an idea

Regan

“Just one more lane bro”. When are we going to accept as Queenslanders that the only proven way to “beat” traffic is to invest in alternatives to driving like public and active transport.

Mandy S

Perhaps the congestion across the city is because people can’t afford the astronomical toll fees – so the tunnels are used less. Scrap the tolls.

Greg

A western ring road is needed much further west than the Centenary Hwy. eg Amberley to Strathpine.

Odin

Good idea but it cannot be a toll. We pay our rego and levies in petrol for roading projects. There should never be a road toll. Period.

Confabulated

We also need a car and pedestrian bridge from Toowong to West End, and we need the SE Freeway extended to join up as close as possible with the Centenary Motorway, to stop senseless gridlock on Coro Drive.

You’re kidding

Zee

So can afford a tunnel & the Olympics? Don’t believe it.

Graham S

Cynical attempt to buy votes in Brisbane’s west after a decade without any genuine action on traffic or public transport in that part of Brisbane. The tunnel would be circa 15km long. There is no way it will be economic to build, even if it was technically feasible.

STEPHEN

10 years on nothing …. Now Labor wants to build something. CMFEU tax will double the price.

Kevin

And just another way for us to get screwed even more with another toll. Just like we aren’t paying enough to use the tunnels as it is.

What about the regions?

Desmond

More money to the southeast, the regions get bugger all, except the privilege of paying for it. Yeah, split the state.

Anthony

The need for better roads is 100 times greater in the regions than the city. The State Government should be doing much more for the whole of the State – not just Brisbane.

James

Time to split Queensland. The area north of Noosa and west of Ipswich can be a new state and the strip from Noosa to Coolangatta and west to Ipswich can be there own little serfdom. We then can spend the money we generate on improving infrastructure instead of wasting funds on that little coastal strip

Karen

Can we fix the Bruce Highway first, so many deaths on that Highway

Originally published as What you said about plans for a new tunnel in Brisbane to ease traffic congestion