Tag: Kedron to Carseldine tunnel

Public Consultation Opens on Proposed Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel

Consultation on a proposed Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel between Kedron and Carseldine has commenced and will run until this December.

Read: $35 Million Allocated to Check Viability of Toll Tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine

The Queensland Government is inviting residents, businesses, and other interested parties to have their say on the tunnel proposal, which aims to tackle congestion in Brisbane’s North.

The consultation follows an announcement by Treasurer Cameron Dick in June this year that a detailed investment proposal was underway into the proposed tunnel. 

Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel
Map of the Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel investigation area, from Kedron to Carseldine, and the surrounding road network (Photo credit: northbrisbaneinfrastructure.com.au)

The investment proposal analysis is being conducted by North Brisbane Infrastructure, a subsidiary of the Queensland Investment Corporation. The results are due to be submitted to the State Government in mid-2024 for further consideration.

Treasurer Dick said the Government is committed to listening to Queenslanders and investing in planning for the state’s future growth. 

“This tunnel proposal presents a potential solution for a congestion challenge on Brisbane’s northern fringe,” he said.

Forecast population growth on the Sunshine Coast and in the Moreton Bay region is expected to result in increased commuter traffic heading into Brisbane. 

“Now is the right time to do this work,” Mr Dick said.

Minister for Transport Mark Bailey said the tunnel proposal is one way the Queensland Government is tackling congestion. 

“From the ‘Second M1’ on the Gold Coast to significant upgrades along the Bruce Highway, we are doing the heavy lifting for commuters in the South East,” Mr Bailey said.

Read: Kedron Residents Voice Concerns Over Potentially Hazardous Crossing on Gympie Road

The community can have their say by taking a quick poll, completing an online survey, posting on the comment board or attending an information session. More details are available at www.northbrisbaneinfrastructure.com.au. The consultation period ends on 3 December 2023.

Published 1-November-2023

$35 Million Allocated to Check Viability of Toll Tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine

Would a toll tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine alleviate traffic congestion? That is the $35-million question. The proposed 7-km tunnel would potentially traverse the long-preserved North West transport corridor and closely follow Gympie Road to connect the two suburbs. 

Read: Various Transport Projects Being Considered in Kedron

This proposal for a tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine comes after Brisbane City Council’s North West Transport Network plan, which included two options for a road tunnel, was rejected by Infrastructure Australia earlier this year.

Council’s proposal had yet to sufficiently consider a cheaper surface route, although this alternative faces community opposition and environmental concerns due to its impact on ecologically sensitive areas.

Photo Credit: QLDGovernment

To undertake the necessary assessments and analysis, a new entity named North Brisbane Infrastructure will be established by the Queensland Investment Corporation. This entity will be responsible for detailed transport modelling, technical assessments, and financial analysis. 

In addressing traffic congestion, the project will also consider public and active transport needs, including bicycle lanes.

A recent statement outlines the potential benefits to be examined as part of a detailed investment proposal, including:

  • shorter commuter times
  • better connections with the Bruce Highway to and from the Sunshine Coast
  • better connections to the west of the city through Legacy Way and south through the Clem7 to the M1
  • improving amenities and liveability for locals by removing through traffic from Gympie Road

Treasurer Cameron Dick is confident that the tunnel could be constructed within eight years if it proves viable.

Mr Dick emphasized that the state government’s proposed toll tunnel offers a new solution to the long-standing challenge of easing congestion in Brisbane’s north. The forecasted population growth in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay region is expected to increase traffic into Brisbane, making it an opportune time to address this issue. 

“This is a new solution proposed for a long-established challenge – easing congestion through Brisbane’s north,” he said. As a world leader in funds management, the Queensland Investment Corporation has nearly $30 billion worth of infrastructure assets under management.

“It has the expertise to give us the clearest answer in the shortest time to decide whether a Gympie Road toll tunnel stacks up.

“Forecast population growth on the Sunshine Coast and in the Moreton Bay region will increase the traffic into Brisbane, so now is the right time to do this work. Based on Brisbane’s most recent road tunnel projects, from this point the tunnel could potentially be built within about eight years if it stacks up.”

The Kedron to Carseldine tunnel’s construction would be tolled due to the project’s significance. The project’s proponents anticipate that the tunnel would improve connections with the Bruce Highway to and from the Sunshine Coast, as well as facilitate better connections to Brisbane’s west via Legacy Way and south through the Clem 7 to the M1.

Read: Kedron Brook Lighting Restoration Works Get Underway

A community consultation will be conducted in the last half of 2023 to gather input from local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders. The work on the investment proposal is set to begin in the 2023/24 financial year.

Published 11-June-2023