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.
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.
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.
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