..

Nothing but good news.

i agree, any pics?

HOLY SHIT! Brissie just keeps pumpin them out don't they? That's awesome news. I can't wait to see brissie in 6-7 years time.... It's goin to be fantastic!!

Couldn't easily find the thread for the airport link so I started this one. The courier Mail has a feature on the tunnel on their new web page. There is too much info to copy so the address is here:

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com....5003660,00.html

I think the Airport Link is great, the only drama I have with it is I think it should be emptying out to the East of the current Gateway Motorway and to the West of the proposed Gateway Motorway to avoid the built up area and to put you right onto either the Airport Road or the Motorway.

I just hope it gets built...and soon!!!

It's good to see that the state is also backing the Toowong Link!

Another site for more info at http://www.airportlinkeis.com/

this is gonna be great for brisbane. i know the tunnel activists will start campaigning soon but im gonna have my go first.

The tunnel will reduce congestion on Lutwyche Rd which means when the busway comes through and destroys all the shitbox dunga buildings on sthe side of the road, large TOD developments will emerge, high rise units, boulevards, strip shopping. the whole lot. all the traffic will be underground. how awesome is that.

whinging about the cost gets ppl nowhere. look what it did for brisbane. we now are trying to make up for what we should have built years ago at 3x the cost now.

I still don't get whether the busway will be tunnel or at-grade, anyone know?

I thought I heard that they would be building the busway while they were building the tunnel to make construction costs cheaper, and hence thought that it would also be a tunnel. Not 100% sure though.

Gympie Road -> Northern Freeway (Tunnel).

That would be the shit.

I was under the impression that the the Airport link would run fairly deep with the busway tunnel between this and the surface.

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7624/pelm15fj.jpg

Does anyone know how many properties were resumed for the S.E Freeway or Busway, surely it would have used up a hell of alot more properties than this project. As inconvenient as this must be for the property owners they must realise that it is a necessary piece of infrastructure, every single one of them must be affected by the state of traffic on Lutwyche and Bowen Bridge Rd.

What exactly happens when a property is resumed...?
I assume the affected people are OVER compensated (ie given more than their property is worth)

The SE Freeway was built decades ago before NIMBYS really existed, they did but not in such a force. And the Busway didnt actually reclaim that many houses.

What exactly happens when a property is resumed...?
I assume the affected people are OVER compensated (ie given more than their property is worth)
I think they are given as much money as its worth. They should be OVER compensated.

im under the impression that the busway will come to grade at the stations and will underground for the remainder. The busway wont be completed for at least 10 years i saw somewhere. It will only be completed at Kedron & Herston and the remainder in between will be constructed after the tunnel has been finished

Got two newsletters in the mail today about the Northern Busway and Airport Link. The Busway will apparently be elevated from the RCH to just past the RBH near the BP (stupid, because I have seen old original plans which had a tunnel instead which would be way better). From the RBH onwards it will all be tunneled right up to Kedron Brook with underground stations at Windsor, Albion Rd and Lutwyche Shopping Centre and then emerges aboveground soon after. The area around the connection with the Airport Link at Bowen Hills is still be designed.

Got two newsletters in the mail today about the Northern Busway and Airport Link. The Busway will apparently be elevated from the RCH to just past the RBH near the BP (stupid, because I have seen old original plans which had a tunnel instead which would be way better). From the RBH onwards it will all be tunneled right up to Kedron Brook with underground stations at Windsor, Albion Rd and Lutwyche Shopping Centre and then emerges aboveground soon after. The area around the connection with the Airport Link at Bowen Hills is still be designed.


Yeah, I'm under the impression it will be a flyover around the carpark, and then dive below grade at the big vacant lot next to BP.

It will be very interesting to see them tunnel through Lutwyche, would be prettty damn deep.

^^
Yep, that's pretty much it. Elevated around the carpark, then onto the western side of Bowen Bridge road, a station at the RBH, bridge over Butterfield St and tunnel behind BP.

The thing about the tunnel and stations is that they will have to fit in with the Airport Link tunnel too.

^^ it would have to dive under after the creek rather than on the site next to BP.

Brisbane is gonna look like a city that means business soon. flyovers, tunnels, elevated road decks, high quality PT.

Fortunately, some of Brisbane's best heritage neighbourhoods wont be affected in the area around Windsor, Wilston, Kalinga & Clayfield. They wont even know anything is there

The SE Freeway was built decades ago before NIMBYS really existed, they did but not in such a force. And the Busway didnt actually reclaim that many houses.

Old picture of the Freeway UC, first posted by another forumer a couple of years ago.

On the subject of old Nimby's, I used to live in Norman Park as a kid in the 70's, and I remember there had been a plan to build a bridge from New Farm to Norman Park/East Brisbane but local residents stopped it and the Gateway bridge was built instead. I wonder how that would have changed Brisbane if it had gone ahead?

Here is a good transport website, with info and pics of the 1965 Central Freeway plan, highly recomended,

http://seqnews.blogspot.com/2005/09/1965-brisbane-transportation-study.html

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/4984/brisbanesefreewayuc4hv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Dude, that website is ace. Quite interesting

Fantastic website, but it literally makes me feel sick to think they were freeways planned to go right through some of the best, most historic suburbs in Brisbane. I'm so happy it never happened, I would rather have traffic jams.

I live just next to one of the junctions in East Brisbane, my present street and home probably wouldn't exist if that plan had gone ahead.

Well looks like Airportlink and the INB has been given the green light! :)

^^ Yep, looks like it's going ahead.

I'm glad, I really thought that the two tunnels should have been built and designed and proposed together. Without Airportlink, I think NSBT would be a disaster, leading all of the traffic into suburbia and making the same mistake they made with the Riverside Expressway.

The RACQ are now kicking up a stink that with the tunnel the state government are taking 2 lanes of Lutwyche Road to turn them into bus lanes. RACQ are accusing the state government of traffic funnelling.
I just say, people need to get used to leaving their car at home, and if they use their car they can pay for it either with petrol or tolls!!

^^ I agree!

Also, the courier mail has some videos and maps of Airportlink..,
Link - Here (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20546423-3102,00.html)

RACQ is full of shit. theyre only kicking a stink because it will in a tiny way affect memberships as ppl wont use their cars as much.

the lanes were always going to be removed from Lutwyche Rd and so they should be. this will create better communities on the surface and promote PT usage even more.

Damn that central freeway would of been absolutely awesome!!
We wouldnt even have near the congestion problems we have now.. wheres all the inspirational and visionary planning we used to have? Now all we got a is a 2 lane tunnel (1 lane on critical off ramps and intersections) yeah mad plan!! NOT!!

Old picture of the Freeway UC, first posted by another forumer a couple of years ago.

On the subject of old Nimby's, I used to live in Norman Park as a kid in the 70's, and I remember there had been a plan to build a bridge from New Farm to Norman Park/East Brisbane but local residents stopped it and the Gateway bridge was built instead. I wonder how that would have changed Brisbane if it had gone ahead?

Here is a good transport website, with info and pics of the 1965 Central Freeway plan, highly recomended,

http://seqnews.blogspot.com/2005/09/1965-brisbane-transportation-study.html

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/4984/brisbanesefreewayuc4hv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Just to further add to this and that website, here is a copy of a summary of the State Governments Cabinet submissions regarding that proposed freeway amongst other things:




Issues discussed by Cabinet including the redistribution of electoral wards within the City of Brisbane, flooding and the construction of freeways.

Cabinet discussed the redistribution of electoral districts within the City of Brisbane on 13th March, 4th July, 11th July, 7th August and 21st August. The original submission, discussed on 13th March, proposed increasing the number of wards from 28 to 29, and recommended that the State Government should consult with the Brisbane City Council60. The Cabinet decided on 4th July to approve the preparation of a new City of Brisbane Act allowing for only 19 electoral districts, and for the election of the Lord Mayor by councilors61. On 11th July, Cabinet discussed a Bill allowing for 21 wards and agreed that further discussion was needed to determine the final number of electoral districts62. Brisbane's Lord Mayor, Clem Jones, announced that the state government was 'trying to get rid of me'63. The Local Government Minister rejected calls for a referendum on the matter, and ignored the Council's protest64.

Former Brisbane Town Clerk, JC Slaughter, described the changes as 'without any doubt the most retrograde which have been contemplated in almost 50 years' and criticised the speed with which the proposed changes were agreed to by the State Government65. It was decided on 7th August to refer the matter to the next meeting of the joint Government parties66. A special Parliamentary committee meeting approved the draft legislation without any changes, and the Bill was passed at the joint parties meeting on 9th August67. According to the Courier-Mail, the Premier was one of four government members who voted against the legislation and the newspaper claimed that the changes to the Brisbane City Council were part of a 'back-room deal' between the Government parties68. The Premier announced on August 21st that Cabinet had approved the Bill, and legislation would be introduced in Parliament 'without change'69.

At the Bill's first reading, Local Government Minister Henry McKechnie said the changes would produce 'democracy' and make the workload of councilors equal to that of State parliamentarians70. Country Party member for South Coast, Russ Hinze, claimed that Brisbane had 'not had democratic government for at least 10 years' and 'Clem Jones runs it like the Kremlin'. The Government used its numbers to "gag" debate and the Bill was passed at its first reading. At the Bill's second reading, McKechnie said that Brisbane's councilors were 'not aldermen in the true sense but professional politicians' and under the new legislation the Lord Mayor would 'be answerable to elected representatives' for the first time71. The newspapers noted that the ALP team would be 'likely to win' the next council election despite the reduction in the number of wards, and this prediction was proved to be correct72.

In February houses in the Brisbane suburb of Windsor were flooded for the second time in five years73. Apparently a storm surge caused by a cyclone combined with a high tide caused the street to flood, and major work was needed to alleviate the problem 74. In March the Department of Harbours and Marine announced that under the terms of the City of Brisbane Flood Mitigation Act 1952, the State government had no responsibility for flooding in Breakfast Creek 75. A second flood in April forced residents and businesses to evacuate their homes and shops, and the Courier-Mail called on State and council authorities to 'stop passing the buck'76.

State Cabinet discussed flooding in Brisbane creeks on 21st March, 24th April and 13th November, and decided to establish a committee to investigate Breakfast Creek flooding. The engagement of engineering consultants to assess the situation was also endorsed77. The decision by Cabinet to engage consulting engineers was announced on 25th April, with Treasurer Chalk announcing that this was 'the first positive step ever taken to overcome the flooding of lower areas of Brisbane'78.

Brisbane's Lord Mayor criticised the State Government, saying there was no need for further studies as 'volumes of information' already existed on Brisbane flooding79. In reply, Chalk said the council had 'never approached the State Government' for any assistance to reduce flooding80. The Premier also criticised the City Council, saying it had been invited to provide information to the committee but to date had not done so81. Lord Mayor Jones said that the Premier's claim was 'not true' and flooding had been discussed for 'many years'82.

Chalk accused the ALP of making Brisbane's flooding 'a political football' and continued his criticism of the council, claiming that 'the Labor city council for 12 years had done nothing to help the people in flood affected areas'83. He also claimed that the council had made the problem worse by allowing industries to 'fill floodplain areas above flood level' and permitting residential development on creek catchments84. Many homes and roads were flooded again on 9th November when a 'tropic-style downpour' drenched Southeast Queensland 85.

On 13th November, Cabinet agreed on the composition of the Brisbane flooding study committee and approved mitigation work at Enoggera, Ithaca and Breakfast Creeks, and Kedron Brook. Chalk called for a complete review of Council legislation relating to development in flood-prone areas, claiming that this was 'probably the only way that the Council can be brought to a position of full responsibility'86 . Cabinet decided that mitigation work 'should be limited to the worst affected areas' and there was agreement that the overall cost of the scheme should be restricted to $12 million rather than $20 million as originally proposed. Furthermore, Cabinet determined that the Brisbane City Council was partly responsible for the current situation because it allowed development to continue in flood-prone areas87. Cabinet approval for the scheme was announced on 21st November88.

The State Government had announced in 1971 that approval had been given for the construction of a new dam on the Brisbane River at Wivenhoe, which was designed to reduce flooding and provide Brisbane with adequate water reserves. A feasibility study to examine a pumped storage hydroelectric scheme at Wivenhoe Dam was approved by Cabinet on 6th June, and further construction of the dam project was approved to proceed on 21st August89. The Premier announced that Cabinet would consider compensation for farmers affected by the dam's construction90 . Completion of the dam was expected in 1981, and the hydroelectric station would be used to provide power during peak load periods91.

In 1972 the Captain Cook Bridge and the first stage of the Southeast Freeway were opened to traffic. Cabinet also considered a number of other projects designed to alleviate traffic congestion in Brisbane and surrounding areas. Approval was given on 18th January for the Main Roads Department to start construction of the Central and Northern Freeways from Fortitude Valley to Kedron, with a proposed connection to the Southeast Freeway by a new bridge at New Farm92. Main Roads Minister Ron Camm publicly announced on the previous day that the new bridge would be built on the site of the New Farm powerhouse, which he said 'was obsolete, and not needed in the fast-developing Southeast Queensland electricity generating system'93. The Premier announced in February that Brisbane's freeway system would be 'the most advanced of any Australian capital'94.

On 6th June Cabinet approved the construction of a Freeway from Spring Hill to Ashgrove, and a future connection to Turbot Street and the Riverside Expressway was also noted95. Details of the proposed freeway routes and planned resumptions were announced on 15th June and officials noted that the Wilbur Smith plan had been modified to allow freeways to make greater use of government land96 .

The submission noted that the alteration of route meant that more elderly people, who could not afford to relocate, would be affected 97. Cabinet approved assistance, in principle, for those displaced by the Freeway projects on 18th December. Cabinet noted that the Main Roads Department had selected a new route, not that shown in the Wilbur Smith study of Brisbane Transportation Planning of 1965, because the new path reduced the number of private properties needing to be bought. Minister for Main Roads Camm said it 'upset him' to know that elderly people were going to be disturbed but added 'this is a world-wide problem, and like other Governments, we have been unable to find a practical solution so far'98.
Work on the freeways was suspended after the incoming Federal Labor government ordered in December 1972 that funding should be directed at public transport instead 99.
Last Updated: Thursday, 20 May 2004

http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/1972cabdocs/brisbane.asp
Source: Queensland State Archives

Wow, did anybody read the 1 comment left on that site ( http://seqnews.blogspot.com/2005/09/1965-brisbane-transportation-study.html )? I really hope that it's a joke, haha.

" Comments:
Anonymous said...
Hello there,
This was a very interesting article. Its a shame that this project is no longer on the cards. What, a project of this calibre would roughly cost $2b maybe even $2.5b. Still fall short of that $3b price tag for a shitty tunnel (i.e. NSBT) that will further increase the traffic already on the congested routes of the SE Freeway and Lutwyche Road.

It would be interesting to see if DMR still have this project somewhere on that ugly pile in storage.

Brisbane is no longer a little country town. Soon or should I say now, driving into the city is no longer amusing. I honestly believe Council, DMR and State Government have to invest into infrastructure that will make a significant difference on allievating congestion.

Do they honestly believe they'll achieve the goals that they set out when conducting the feasibility studies for these busway projects. Not until the frequency/number of services provided to the public are increased from roughly 10 to 15mins on the recognised routes to somewhere under 5mins. People aren't going to get out of their cars for this crap.

I'm ready for your criticism, tell me what you think?

Cheers"

Why should tunnels have any effect on reducing congestion? The rate of traffic growth, car numbers, car use, far exceeds any increase in growth in road space. It fails before it even starts.

^^ I hope that the SEQNews website is updated as its a great site.

It is interesting to read peoples oppostion to the implimentation of the bus lanes on Lutwyche Road.

1st they complain about all the road projects and that what we need in Brisbane is more public transport, so then the Government says they are going to put in more Public Transport (The bus lanes) then people kick up a massive stink about the removal of car lanes!! Common people get over it!!!

My faviourite is though the people that complain about the implimentation of extra public transport taking over road space as it takes longer by PT than in a car. I just feel like shaking them and wondering how they are going to speed up their public transport trips without putting in more infrastructure!!!

:bash: :rant: :bash:

I live just next to one of the junctions in East Brisbane, my present street and home probably wouldn't exist if that plan had gone ahead.

I go to Churchie and live in highgate hill. That plan is just disgusting. It ruins some of brisbanes best innercity suburbs, and it goes very close to many schools!

Wow, that central freeway plan was fantastic, it would have solved lots of traffic problems.

Very hard to build in Brisbane though, anti-road nimby's are at an all time high atm.

I have had it with all these NIMBY rich folk in their posh near city suburbs that don't want any freeways with 10 light years of their house and cos of that think the rest of us will all take buses if they just let the roads clog up completely.

Some of those people should try catching a BCC bus from the burbs - it SUCKS - cramped, overloaded, and never on time (and still plenty of clunker buses about).

Of course it would have required some foresight to build this ring road system. Any wonder Brisbane traffic is now worst in the country (or thereabouts). Good luck with that, same as with our water system, no planning, no infastructure, too many NIMBY's who don't want anything.

Freeways are the lifeblood of a city and Brisbane is well on it's way to a premature heart attack.

BTW the tunnel is stupid in only being 2 lanes wide, but again, I suppose someone will make a lot of money widening it in the future won't they.

I really wonder why we are called the smart state.

the 1965 freeway plan would have been the worst ever travesty on brisbane. can u imagine massive overpasses towering over New Farm Park and all those old beautiful suburbs. it makes me sick that it was going to happen.

i can just imagine how ugly and brutal they would look too as everything that was built in the 60's / 70's in brisbane. thank god they are now going underground and we have govts willing to spend on both traffic and PT.

BTW the tunnel is stupid in only being 2 lanes wide, but again, I suppose someone will make a lot of money widening it in the future won't they.

I really wonder why we are called the smart state.

The Sydney harbor tunnel and cross city tunnels in Sydney cope perfectly just with two lanes in peak hour! I was quite impressed...

also, I guess cites like Toyko and Hong Kong don't revolve around freeways cause of their extensive metro networks...

Yeah brilliant, a 2 lane underground freeway for a growing population like ours. How much do these guys get paid to come with this stuff, even in the 60's it was 3 lanes and anyone who drives on the M1 will know that is NOT enough even today.

Wow, that central freeway plan was fantastic, it would have solved lots of traffic problems.


are u on drugs? :runaway:
it is the worst thing i have even seen and it makes my blood boil just looking at those images. brisbane would have become a slum amongst a concrete overpass maze.

are u on drugs? :runaway:
it is the worst thing i have even seen and it makes my blood boil just looking at those images. brisbane would have become a slum amongst a concrete overpass maze.

I'm not on drugs, I'm the one thinking straight and planning ahead. Where has your kind of attitude gotten us road wise today? I tell you where... GRIDLOCK! Ooo heaven forbid an overpass!? Scary stuff! What is this Adeliade?

Some of you people don't want freeways, you people don't want overpasses, you people don't want anything, well fine, don't ever complain about the traffic again because it's your fault we are in this mess we are in, and that goes for water as well.

I'm not on drugs, I'm the one thinking straight and planning ahead. Where has your kind of attitude gotten us road wise today? I tell you where... GRIDLOCK! Ooo heaven forbid an overpass!? Scary stuff! What is this Adeliade?

Some of you people don't want freeways, you people don't want overpasses, you people don't want anything, well fine, don't ever complain about the traffic again because it's your fault we are in this mess we are in, and that goes for water as well.

Locke, what are you smoking??

Thank christ those freeways weren't built. Go and take a look at most large American cities ringed by freeways and tell me they would be a nice place to live and shop and go out and have fun. Most of their CBD's are barren ghost towns at night.

For the beauty of urban freeways everybody is invited to make a tour through the Ruhr area in Germany or the Randstad in the Netherlands. It has definitely not increased the quality of living and traffic is dense in the morning and evening as well because everybody takes the car to go to work. Promoting public transport and tunnels is definitely a better way to preserve the character of a city like Brisbane.

Are we in a mess? Or inconvenienced? What would the situation be with unrestrained rapacious traffic demand? All the criteria used to calculate the cost of traffic congestion still apply and mount up far beyond such so-called costs.

I'm not on drugs, I'm the one thinking straight and planning ahead. Where has your kind of attitude gotten us road wise today? I tell you where... GRIDLOCK! Ooo heaven forbid an overpass!? Scary stuff! What is this Adeliade?

Some of you people don't want freeways, you people don't want overpasses, you people don't want anything, well fine, don't ever complain about the traffic again because it's your fault we are in this mess we are in, and that goes for water as well.

i compare brisbane to being a lot like vancouver. vancouver has only 2 or 3 freeways for a city of similar population. Access into the CBD is via tree lined boulevards with high frequency trolley buses. as a result, the CBD is very lively, a lot like brisbane's and this is because it is easily accessible.

yes they do have traffic problems in areas and are working to fix it on a similar scale to what brisbane is doing but it doesnt even compare to a city like LA that is fully depandant on its freeways. look at the LA downtown. its pretty lifeless and most human activity is in the suburbs.

think about the character of new farm, east brisbane,windsor, kedron etc. all those heritage areas would be lost. could u imagine a freeway over the top of new farm and mowbray park? unfortunately, we lost a lot of bowen hills when they started construction and those areas now are pretty disadvantaged

You only have to look at American cities to see what a disaster elevated freeways are. They are designed to divert traffic over and away from downtown, urban areas. As a result these places become lifeless and the areas adjacent to freeways become dark, dead 'no go ' zones. The freeways also have become congested and girdlocked as once they are in place drivers have no option but to use them as there are few alternative roadways.

We can learn from cities such as Boston that have had major freeway systems in place since the 50's but they realised what a mistake they were and have since torn down their elevated freeway systems and replaced it with a series of underground tunnels. The once lifeless area underneath their freeways have been converted to parks, plazas and open spaces, bringing new light and life to these areas.

Brisbane is definately on the correct path by planning for underground road and rail development.

I work at the airport so the staffod road connection will be great :)

You only have to look at American cities to see what a disaster elevated freeways are. They are designed to divert traffic over and away from downtown, urban areas. As a result these places become lifeless and the areas adjacent to freeways become dark, dead 'no go ' zones. The freeways also have become congested and girdlocked as once they are in place drivers have no option but to use them as there are few alternative roadways.

We can learn from cities such as Boston that have had major freeway systems in place since the 50's but they realised what a mistake they were and have since torn down their elevated freeway systems and replaced it with a series of underground tunnels. The once lifeless area underneath their freeways have been converted to parks, plazas and open spaces, bringing new light and life to these areas.

Brisbane is definately on the correct path by planning for underground road and rail development.

the big dig! i know it.

freeways may look impressive in wide open spaces but in dense urban areas, we can definately do without them.

^
the big dig is perhaps not a good example

-costed at $2.5 billion, but over $14 has been spent on it
-years beyond what it should have taken to be complete
-partial roof collapse.

^ sounds like most high level infustructure systems

^
the big dig is perhaps not a good example

-costed at $2.5 billion, but over $14 has been spent on it
-years beyond what it should have taken to be complete
-partial roof collapse.

well i didnt know that.

i know of the social improvements though!

still, its a massive piece of engineering and i reckon the amount of work that will take place in SEQ in the coming years will be on par with that and we will probably be one of the most developing regions in the world (behind dubai)

I was browsing the forum and noticed my blog got a mention. SEQNews hasn't been updated in ages, unfortunately. I am currently working on other articles about Brisbane's proposed freeway system and will be posting them at SEQTION, which stands for 'South East Queensland Transport Information, Opinions and News'. One day I will rewrite that Central Freeway article as I keep coming across a lot of other interesting information. I have also written up a couple of other articles about the Petrie Bight Expressway and the Riverside Expressway. One about the very controversial Northern Freeway is currently underway.

Petrie Bight Expressway:
http://seqnews.blogspot.com/2005/11/1965-brisbane-transportation-study.html

Riverside Expressway
http://seqtion.blogspot.com/2006/09/riverside-expressway.html

I noticed that a couple of people have left comments on the blog since it was mentioned here. One reader asked about the Eastern Freeway and its proposed route. I thought the easiest way to explain it was by posting the following diagram, which shows all of the freeways proposed in the Brisbane Transportation Study. Be warned, it's a very large image (1.29 MB, so right-click and save to your hard drive).

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4976/111wm3.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=111wm3.jpg)

The Eastern Freeway was to commence at the Central Freeway and run east to Wondall Rd. It was to be 6 lanes wide between the Central Freeway and Old Cleveland Rd, Camp Hill. East of there it was to be 4 lanes wide with interchanges near Stanley Rd and at the North-South Freeway (Gateway Mwy) and Belmont Rd.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Trent.

Thank you for your website and that image, it's good to compare what is now and what could have been. It's almost impossible to imagine how the suburbs of Brisbane would have changed and developed if the freeways would have been put in.

^^ Trent please keep up the fantastic work. 10/10!

Great work Trent, I love your site. I've had it bookmarked for ages.

Guys i dont even think it matters if its above or below ground thats besides the point that its only 2 lanes even just one in some places, then 10yrs on when they figure out they need to expand it how are they gonna do that in a tunnel.. how fucking stupid are these retards

I dont think it matters that its only 2 lanes each way, I cant think of one tunnel anywhere in Australia that has 3 lanes each way. Given the feeding roads into this tunnel and their other options I dont think its going to be an issue.

Also I wasnt aware that any of this tunnel was just one lane other than when at the southern end this road effectively splits in two to join to the NSBT and ICB. Dont assume that NSBT is going to supply more traffic to this road than the ICB, it is currently funnelling more traffic towards the airport than any other city road, and if the western link tunnel goes ahead then you are going to see a hell of a lot more traffic on this route.

I would be more concerned with Hale St or if the bridge goes ahead then South Brisbane. Once all of this goes ahead then these areas are gonna be worse than they already are.

The Airport Link/ICB/NSBT interchange has been fixed now. There are now two through lanes each way through the interchange.

As for other tunnels with 3 lanes each way, the Burnley/Domain CityLink tunnels in Melbourne are that wide. The Lane Cove Tunnel in Sydney was to be 3 lanes each way, but the RTA decided to accept a multimillion dollar payment (bribe) from the toll road operator and go for a four lane (two lanes each way) tunnel instead.

Trent.

I was browsing the forum and noticed my blog got a mention. SEQNews hasn't been updated in ages, unfortunately. I am currently working on other articles about Brisbane's proposed freeway system and will be posting them at SEQTION, which stands for 'South East Queensland Transport Information, Opinions and News'. One day I will rewrite that Central Freeway article as I keep coming across a lot of other interesting information. I have also written up a couple of other articles about the Petrie Bight Expressway and the Riverside Expressway. One about the very controversial Northern Freeway is currently underway.

Petrie Bight Expressway:
http://seqnews.blogspot.com/2005/11/1965-brisbane-transportation-study.html

Riverside Expressway
http://seqtion.blogspot.com/2006/09/riverside-expressway.html

I noticed that a couple of people have left comments on the blog since it was mentioned here. One reader asked about the Eastern Freeway and its proposed route. I thought the easiest way to explain it was by posting the following diagram, which shows all of the freeways proposed in the Brisbane Transportation Study. Be warned, it's a very large image (1.29 MB, so right-click and save to your hard drive).

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4976/111wm3.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=111wm3.jpg)

The Eastern Freeway was to commence at the Central Freeway and run east to Wondall Rd. It was to be 6 lanes wide between the Central Freeway and Old Cleveland Rd, Camp Hill. East of there it was to be 4 lanes wide with interchanges near Stanley Rd and at the North-South Freeway (Gateway Mwy) and Belmont Rd.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Trent.

ah hum !!! - That may of been me !!!!!!!:)
Great websites by the way.
I'd always heard about the proposed eastern fwy but had never really seen any maps about it except for once on an old UBD I think where they sought of had the proposed route mapped out. It was so long ago but I seem to recollect that it joined up with the now Moreton bay bypass (capalaba). But as I said it was ages ago when I saw it (prob. early 80's). Im pretty sure that this map also had the proposed outline for the start of the Northern fwy? (the one starting in the Valley) going through the valley up to Lutwyche Rd – and also it had a proposed section of Fwy from the Bruce Hwy at Carseldine running towards the city along side Ridley Rd through Aspley, Chermside and stopping near Rode rd (once again I think, I can’t remember for sure ???)

Oh and before I go - Its a good thing that some of these fwy's didn't eventuate because one goes awfully close to my backyard !!!!

ah hum !!! - That may of been me !!!!!!!:)
Great websites by the way.
I'd always heard about the proposed eastern fwy but had never really seen any maps about it except for once on an old UBD I think where they sought of had the proposed route mapped out. It was so long ago but I seem to recollect that it joined up with the now Moreton bay bypass (capalaba). But as I said it was ages ago when I saw it (prob. early 80's). Im pretty sure that this map also had the proposed outline for the start of the Northern fwy? (the one starting in the Valley) going through the valley up to Lutwyche Rd – and also it had a proposed section of Fwy from the Bruce Hwy at Carseldine running towards the city along side Ridley Rd through Aspley, Chermside and stopping near Rode rd (once again I think, I can’t remember for sure ???)

Oh and before I go - Its a good thing that some of these fwy's didn't eventuate because one goes awfully close to my backyard !!!!


The freeway plan was overhauled in 1969 and it involved making the Central Freeway bigger (it was to cross the River further east at the Powerhouse and further west near Park Road, Milton), cutting the Northern Freeway back to Gympie Rd, Kedron, and the big 'kink' in the northern half of the North West Freeway was straightened. I don't know about the Eastern Fwy though, maybe they changed it too. I will have to do some more research. The scary thing is, the route of the Northern and North West Freeways are still declared as transport corridors. They could build a freeway between Shand Street Alderley and the current end of the Gympie Arterial Rd (aka North West Fwy) at Carseldine tomorrow if they wanted! The Northern Freeway won't happen though, as only a few of the houses are owned by the government and the Airport Link replaces it anyway.

Trent.

The Airport Link website has been updated a lot. You can now view some concept drawings of portals, flyovers, interchanges etc.

Website (http://www.airportlinkeis.com)

The freeway plan was overhauled in 1969 and it involved making the Central Freeway bigger (it was to cross the River further east at the Powerhouse and further west near Park Road, Milton), cutting the Northern Freeway back to Gympie Rd, Kedron, and the big 'kink' in the northern half of the North West Freeway was straightened. I don't know about the Eastern Fwy though, maybe they changed it too. I will have to do some more research. The scary thing is, the route of the Northern and North West Freeways are still declared as transport corridors. They could build a freeway between Shand Street Alderley and the current end of the Gympie Arterial Rd (aka North West Fwy) at Carseldine tomorrow if they wanted! The Northern Freeway won't happen though, as only a few of the houses are owned by the government and the Airport Link replaces it anyway.

Trent.

I noticed the spare land for the NW freeway when scouting over Google Earth the other day. What would be much better is if they spurred the railway from Alderley and ran it through that same corridor and then have it meet up near Strathpine with the current northern line.

^^ NW Transport Corridor - Mainroads website maps and info
http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/MRWEB/Prod/Content.nsf/2911b5cc11cfec994a2569e60005f0b3/157690a06a1be5c24a257164007febaa?OpenDocument


History

* The origins of this corridor date back to the 1960s in the landmark Wilbur Smith and Associates Brisbane Transportation Study. The study recommended a North West freeway between the Brisbane CBD and Aspley via The Grange and Everton Park.
* While the freeway concept was abandoned in the 1970s, this section of the original freeway corridor was kept for future use as an arterial road.
* The corridor was preserved in the early 1980s based on current planning standards for a four-lane median-divided road.


Current status

There are no current plans for any projects on this corridor.

As the corridor was identified and protected many years ago, it needs to be re-evaluated to determine its role in the future transport network. This will be undertaken as part of the Western Brisbane Transport Network Investigation. This study is an investigation to determine the long-term transport needs in the west and north west areas of Brisbane.

I just dont see the point in building tunnels, what about when we get our summer storms? Wheres all the torrential rain gonna go? I think it will just render this $3bn waste of money useless. Same goes for idea of a subway.. thats gotta be a joke.. has anyone been on the london underground in the middle of their summer.. and thats their summers.. imagine waiting down the bottom of a hole in the ground for a train in our 40c summers.. let alone flooding etc.. face it these pieces of infrastructure are better suited to northern european cities!

^^^^That's is the most rediculous reason for not building the infrastructure I have ever heard!!!

The water from rains are easily avoided...take the smaller tunnels on the ICB and South East Busway as examples, the Airport Link won't get any more water just because it's longer as the extra length doesn't get any rain!! They also have pumps that are able to pump out the water.

About the heat of any underground stations...I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to air condition these areas with air curtains at each edge to keep in the cool. What about all the subway in places like Madrid and Taipei, this has massively reduced traffic congestion and that is the whole purpose of building the infrastructure. These cities are not in Northern Europe!

See, look at how bad traffic is now with our 1 sole freeway, the river side expressway out of action. Bet all those ppl stuck in traffic wouldn't mind a ring road system!

^^Yeah but if we had an awesome Public Transport system there wouldn't be this many issues either. Personally I think we need both a ring road and very good busway and subway infrastructure, far better than what we have currently. Personally I think that anyone who gets stuck in traffic driving into the CBD in peak hour deserve any traffic congestion they get as they are also part of the problem!!

I just dont see the point in building tunnels, what about when we get our summer storms? Wheres all the torrential rain gonna go? I think it will just render this $3bn waste of money useless. Same goes for idea of a subway.. thats gotta be a joke.. has anyone been on the london underground in the middle of their summer.. and thats their summers.. imagine waiting down the bottom of a hole in the ground for a train in our 40c summers.. let alone flooding etc.. face it these pieces of infrastructure are better suited to northern european cities!
Lol, thats funny. Do you think they haven't factored in the stormwater drainage?

Lol, thats funny. Do you think they haven't factored in the stormwater drainage?

Dude even above ground drains fail, and being in a tunnel its not like you can pull off at the next exit and use an alternative route.

As for aircon in a whole subway system how stupid is that yeah makes it really environmentally sustainable!! Just so you know Madrids climate is absolutely nothing like ours but still if you wanna use that arguement most other major cities like KL, Singapore (for the most part), Miami and Bangkok use above ground elevated rail.

^^I tell you what, Air conditioned subways would be more efficient then all of those people driving in cars.

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought underground was meant to be cooler thean above ground, hece that town in SA where almost all of the houses are underground.

As for the drainage, the drainage is to a much higher standard than the above ground routes, and as I said in an earlier post, the amount of water entering the tunnel to any significant distance I would imagine to be fairley negligable.

We have had plenty of storms since the ICB tunnel was opened and flooding has never been an issue. With regard to heat in a subway system, I was always under the impression that the heat came from the actual system rather than the outside temperature. Every train carraige should have air con and if you want to aircondition the platforms you simply enclose them like they do at KL central.

As for the traffic problems in Brisbane, if they scrap the Hale St Bridge, and replace it with a tunnel from Hale St to the S.E Freeway where the NSBT intersects then tadaa, you have an instant ring road system taking alot of traffic out of the inner city, and leaving the riverside expressway purely for people entering and exiting the city.

As for the traffic problems in Brisbane, if they scrap the Hale St Bridge, and replace it with a tunnel from Hale St to the S.E Freeway where the NSBT intersects then tadaa, you have an instant ring road system taking alot of traffic out of the inner city, and leaving the riverside expressway purely for people entering and exiting the city.

hahahaha i doubt many people would ever take that hale st - SE Freeway toll-tunnel when the Riverside Expressway is free(and open).

hale street really needs another lane in each direction. THe amount of traffic that becomes gridlocked on there is a joke. Its a fine line though, grid lock happens only 2 hours in the morning, and 2 hours in the afternoon - i guess thats the same with every city. I like the idea of a tunnel from the S.E. freeway to hale street though

The Hale Street link just needs to be canned full stop. With Northern link, NSBT and Airport link, this should be enough. I really think that if something as severe as what has just happened in Brisbane happens, it will almost always cause this much congestion no matter what. Just think if there were an accident on any very major road in almost any city that was unable to be cleared for 4 days it would be exactly the same!!!

Yeah, the NSBT will complete the central ring road!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/0530178100.jpg
Digging deep into history

By Edmund Burke

November 11, 2006 11:00pm
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

MEET Brisbane's $330 million tunnel team.

They are the engineering masterminds of the Inner Northern Busway that transport bosses hope will free up Brisbane's city roads.

They've worked on major tunnels in Sydney and Melbourne and now it's Brisbane's turn.

Construction manager Iain Ward, area manager Ken Bryan and Main Roads representative Bob Atkinson talked to The Sunday Mail in the Albert St section of the tunnel, which will be 1.25km long and run from Queen St Bus Station to an upgraded Roma St Transit Centre.

Work started on May 6 and has already thrown up a few surprises.

Diggers have unearthed a bomb shelter and 150-year-old storm drain made from porphyry rock, the same as in the Kangaroo Point cliffs.

Old tram lines have been found and a century-old sewer line.

Work on the tunnel is expected to take 18 months.

I'm doing a transport engineering subject this semester at uni and my assignment is on Airport Link and the Northern Busway. Should be interesting.

Up for Sale (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21292506-3102,00.html)


TWO of southeast Queensland's biggest road projects are being offered as a package to the private sector.

The State Government is seeking a single builder for the Airport Link tunnel and the third stage of the Northern Busway. The two projects are expected to cost more than $3 billion.

It was also revealed yesterday that Brisbane City Council planned to upgrade intersections along Kingsford Smith Drive and add lanes in a decade-long $200 million redevelopment.

Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh said the tunnel-busway package deal would be better value, with the two side-by-side projects scheduled for completion at the same time in 2012.

"We are going to market with both of them at the same time in an effort to ensure no delays are made," she said.

The $2.5 billion Airport Link will connect with the new North-South Bypass Tunnel at Bowen Hills and go under Lutwyche Rd and along the East-West Arterial to the airport roundabout.

The tunnel will have a capacity of 95,000 vehicles a day and cut seven minutes off the peak-hour journey from Fortitude Valley to Chermside.

The winning builder will operate the tunnel for 45 years and charge about $5 for standard vehicles.

The $500 million third stage of the Northern Busway from Windsor to Kedron goes mostly under Lutwyche Rd. The two other busway sections will begin at the end of the Inner City Bypass near Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and go mostly along Lutwyche Rd.

Ms Bligh said the Government would contribute to the cost of the Airport Link/Northern Busway project but she would not reveal how much.

Potential bidders have been given until April 11 to express interest.

The council said more than 67,000 vehicles a day used Kingsford Smith Drive, and it would feel increasing pressure in the future with residential and commercial developments.

Council's Liberal roads chairman Graham Quirk said the area between Riverview Terrace and Links Ave could be investigated for potential widening, but there was no talk of property resumptions for now.

He said the project would be funded in council's existing budget.

Up for Sale (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21292506-3102,00.html)



The tunnel will have a capacity of 95,000 vehicles a day and cut seven minutes off the peak-hour journey from Fortitude Valley to Chermside.

.

Eh? That doesn't seem right. 7 minutes is nothing. That must have been a typo for either 17 or 27 minutes surely.

^^ you're right, it dosnt sound right, peak hour along that stretch is more than 7min delay!!

Looks like the State Government are going to be taking a bit more of a role in this project. Good to see!

On another note:

Protest looms over Airport Link
Tony Moore | May 15, 2007 - 7:52PM (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/protest-looms-over-airport-link/2007/05/15/1178995152808.html)

Tensions are rising over the proposed multi-billion dollar Airport Link tunnel project's plans to take out Kedron High School's sport ovals.

Angry teachers will stop work on Thursday in protest over plans to build a "cut and cover" tunnel through the school's oval to link with the Inner Northern Busway.

Kedron High is on Park Road at Kedron, while Wooloowin State School is on nearby Lutwyche Road.

Teachers are also upset about more than 100 truck trips carting soil close to Wooloowin State School and want air conditioning and double-glazing for the school windows.

Queensland Teachers Union president Steve Ryan is supporting the teachers' actions, claiming they had been trying since mid-2005 to learn about the project.

"And they have been making detailed submissions since mid-2006," he said.

Mr Ryan said the teachers had tried to work co-operatively with the project team, but had been repeatedly fobbed off.

"Airport Link is a $3 billion project and the Northern Busway is costed at $333 million, yet the teachers have been shortchanged again and again when they have asked how noise, pollution and safety issues will be addressed," he said.

Mr Ryan said teachers were asking for an indoor sports facility to be built at Kedron High School to take the place of the oval, airconditioning at both schools to moderate the noise and dust impacts, and for double glazing on the windows at Wooloowin State School.

He said teachers were aware of the $12 million in works promised to Brisbane State High School as compensation for Brisbane City Council's Hale Street Bridge proposal after teachers went public with their concerns.

"They are aware of other examples, where schools have been in similar situations and either lobbied the State Government or the Council, and Brisbane State High School is one of those," he said.

Transport Minister Paul Lucas' office has been asked for details of the project and what compensation issues will be offered to the schools as part of the project.

The office will reply tomorrow.

Dude even above ground drains fail, and being in a tunnel its not like you can pull off at the next exit and use an alternative route.

As for aircon in a whole subway system how stupid is that yeah makes it really environmentally sustainable!! Just so you know Madrids climate is absolutely nothing like ours but still if you wanna use that arguement most other major cities like KL, Singapore (for the most part), Miami and Bangkok use above ground elevated rail.

mate, do you even understand the reasoning as to why it's so hot down there. for one, the underground for most parts are 100 years old. some more, but the deep tubes are about 100, maybe a bit less. can't remember, don't care. anyway, the reason why it's so hot is because the size of the tubes are very small with very little gap between the train and the walls and as a result they cannot retrofit airconditioning units to the trains as it will reduce the already limited headroom by more. additionally, the fact that the soil down there is mostly clay, over 100 years it has retained a lot of heat in it which is now why it feels so hot especially in summer. they are about to start trialling a method of cooling it down using water from the thames, but who knows. additionally, it is also so hot because there are so many people using it during peak times further emphasising the "heat" of the train due merely to the body heat of the mofo next to you.

a subway train type system in brisbane will be fine. you seem to forget that there are already small sections which are underground, and if i am not mistaken, the trains are already airconditioned so it doesn't matter.

the engineers aren't stupid. things like are and will be considered. designing for moronic people isn't (well, in most cases it actually is, but you wouldn't realise)!

Good news!!! Let's build this thing!

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Airport Link and Northern Busway get the green light

29 MAY 2007

Joint Statement (http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=52086)

Two of Queensland’s biggest transport projects are set to go ahead with the Queensland Government approving their impact statements.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Anna Bligh said comprehensive assessments on the impact of the north Brisbane projects — the $3 billion Airport Link underground toll road and the $728 million Northern Busway (Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) to Kedron) — had cleared their way forward.

“This was a vital hurdle for these projects to cross — and I am delighted both did so as they will bring enormous, long-term benefits to Brisbane,” Ms Bligh said.

“We can now focus on selecting a consortium to start construction next year.”

Airport Link is a mainly underground toll road that will connect the North-South Bypass Tunnel, Inner City Bypass and local road network at Bowen Hills to the northern arterials of Gympie and Stafford Roads at Kedron and Sandgate Road and the East-West Arterial in the north-east.

It is scheduled to open in 2012 and will be Brisbane’s second toll road tunnel, following on from the North-South Bypass Tunnel, currently under construction.

The Northern Busway, when completed, will connect the Inner Northern Busway at Herston to Bracken Ridge via Windsor, Lutwyche, Kedron, Chermside and Aspley. The Windsor to Kedron section of the busway will be jointly delivered with Airport Link to maximise benefits and minimise construction impacts.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Airport Link and the Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP) for the Northern Busway (RCH to Kedron) were developed over 18 months of planning, detailed investigations and extensive community consultation, and were displayed for public comment late last year.

An Airport Link EIS supplementary report was prepared in response to approximately 300 written submissions on the EIS, raising more than 2000 individual matters ranging from concerns over construction disruption to increased traffic on connecting roads.

Both the EIS and the supplementary report were assessed by the Coordinator-General who prepared an EIS evaluation report that recommended Airport Link proceed, subject to a number of strict conditions.

These included the development of environmental management plans that addressed community concerns relating to construction impacts such as noise and dust, as well as safety and traffic management plans to safeguard access around work sites, especially for students.



The successful tenderer will also be required to develop solutions to minimise the impact of ventilation outlets and construction impacts on Kedron State High and Wooloowin State schools.

“The government will not allow the safety of students and staff to be compromised.”

Ms Bligh said the consultation process allowed the public to be properly informed of — and have their say on — how construction and operation of both projects might affect them.

“As part of this process Education Minister Rod Welford and Member for Stafford Stirling Hinchliffe and I met with local school representatives last week and heard their concerns.

“Extensive input from the community was vital in shaping these projects,” she said.

Ms Bligh said the owners of properties directly affected by the Airport Link and Northern Busway projects would receive fair and proper compensation.

“A number of properties have already been bought from those people who needed to move on while the project was being assessed.

“Now that the projects have been approved to proceed, the project team will approach all affected surface property owners and offer to purchase their properties.

“This provides certainty to those people whose properties are directly required for the project.”

Aside from transport advantages, the projects have other community benefits including rehabilitation of Kedron Brook, beautifying and landscaping Sandgate and Gympie Roads, enhancing Kalinga Park, creating new pedestrian and cycle paths across Kedron Brook and building recreational facilities in Mann Park overlooking Enoggera Creek.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman welcomed the approval of the EIS and CDIMP.

“This was a crucial step in allowing these two projects to become a reality,” he said.

“I am confident both Airport Link and the Northern Busway will be of great benefit to Brisbane’s motorists and bus patrons,” said the Lord Mayor.

Mr Lucas said the Management Plan had drawn a lot of public interest.

”More than 160 written submissions were received on the draft CDIMP from organisations, individuals and government agencies,” Mr Lucas said.

“As a result, the final Plan sets out a range of requirements including the development of environmental management plans that address community concerns relating to impacts such as noise, dust, safety and heritage values.”

Approval of the EIS and CDIMP means the projects can progress to the delivery phase, with tenders expected to be called for Airport Link and the Windsor to Kedron section of the Northern Busway next month (June).

The RCH to Windsor section of the Northern Busway will be built separately.

Ms Bligh said that Airport Link and the Northern Busway are two of the largest infrastructure projects planned in the first phase of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program.

”This is an exciting time for infrastructure projects in South East Queensland..

“I am really looking forward to seeing both these projects come to fruition as they are a vital part of our comprehensive infrastructure plan to meet Brisbane’s current and future transport needs.”

Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900

Excellent. Never really doubted this anyway.

Awesome, bring it on!!!

p.s 7minutes, does seem about right.
it's not that busy along there, and travel time reductions are probably going from 14mins to 7mins.

got a pamphlet in the mail basically saying what kj posted ealier, some nice pictures and maps and stuff, but nothing we havnt seen already i spose... so dont know why I made this post really... ohwell.

jeez, i havent really being living in Brisbane since 2004, so i dont know what im going to do when i come back and theres new tunnels and highways everyhere. Its going to be like drving through a new city, i barely got the hang of the ICB.

And the city will adapt to them, making them a necessity instead of a convenience. Commercial catchment areas will be reconfigured with peripheral centres and stores closed down, main commercial centres consolidated so that you will have to drive to the new centres to access anything. Employment patterns will follow suit, marginal commercial activities closed down and less employment consolidated in few larger centres.

And the city will adapt to them, making them a necessity instead of a convenience. Commercial catchment areas will be reconfigured with peripheral centres and stores closed down, main commercial centres consolidated so that you will have to drive to the new centres to access anything. Employment patterns will follow suit, marginal commercial activities closed down and less employment consolidated in few larger centres.

what the hell are you talking about

Its a no win situation in a saturated network. While you think the tunnels will act as a convenient way to get across the city at first, the city itself will adapt to them, in time making them a necessity.

As A city would to any introduction of a major piece of transport infrastructure.

Gateway Bridge/ICB/Riverside Expressway/City Train network/Busways

Be it public transport or road infrastructure.

It isnt a bad thing.

Its a no win situation in a saturated network. While you think the tunnels will act as a convenient way to get across the city at first, the city itself will adapt to them, in time making them a necessity.

if the city wasnt to adapt then i would be worried that it was stagnant or regressive. Its no secret that there are more cars on the roads, and that previous infastructure is not enough, might have something to do with the20% population growth in 6 years.

Don't forget the approximately 1.8% growth in Vehicle kilometers traveled per Capita (source here (http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/soe-online/SOWEB300.jsp?IndicatorId=270) )

So that would be about 10% for 6 years.


With growth like that you cant just simply build more public roads to handle the traffic there needs to be a whole network plan and surprisingly this is happening. I just hope that the current expenditure in public transport continues to increase as this will allow for the best overall outcome to occur for Brisbane without placing heaps of tolls like there is currently in Sydney.

I'd be interested to see comparisons of how much is being spent on tunnels etc for privately own vehicles vs public transport expenditure. The inner-treehugger in me is quite concerned about how much is being poured into POV infrastructure, possibly at the expense of a truly world-class integrated public transport network.

Whether you believe in climate change or not, peak oil is a real threat that suggests that our wonderful life of Hummers and various other 4WDs may not even be viable in a couple of decades. Even all the hybrids in the world won't be of any use if there's no oil (smug alert a la South Park), so unless we start seeing affordable hydro or solar powered cars fairly soon, there's not much point building more tunnels and roads...unless of course we all want to go on a lovely bicycle ride underground. Lovely scenery!

</hippyrant>

^^ Transportation is just one of many problems we will face when we hit peak oil. But that's best saved for another thread!

Don't forget the approximately 1.8% growth in Vehicle kilometers traveled per Capita (source here (http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/soe-online/SOWEB300.jsp?IndicatorId=270) )

So that would be about 10% for 6 years.


With growth like that you cant just simply build more public roads to handle the traffic there needs to be a whole network plan and surprisingly this is happening. I just hope that the current expenditure in public transport continues to increase as this will allow for the best overall outcome to occur for Brisbane without placing heaps of tolls like there is currently in Sydney.

once again its all linke to the population growth..

more suburbs mean further distances to travel. Also new shopping centres in other suburbs better then the exsisting inner-city malls mean people want to visit these.

All the maps for the new Airport Link and Northern Busway alignment are here:

http://www.citynorthinfrastructure.com.au/page_maps.html


After looking at the plans, there are a number of the new changes that I don't like. Most notably, the new northbound onramp from Bowen Bridge Rd onto Airport Link. This to me is too much for the area, and makes it seem more like a freeway plonked in an inner city suburb.

The maps on that page doesn't show a northbound onramp from Bowen Bridge Road.

Those maps are a year old.

Yes it does, click on the link titled "Airport Link Changed Project".

I can't see that link anywhere.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8130/airportlinkoq1.png

I can't see that link anywhere.

Force a refresh, your browser has cached an older version of the page.

Ok yep, now i got the new one. My bad.

I agree with you, the northbound on ramp does suck. Also, why aren't they tunnelling the busway from Federation Street to Constitution Ave? I have a feeling the northern busway is going to end up a bit of a disjointed mish-mash.

They say that that section is no more efficient if tunneled simultaneously with Airport Link. In other words, "if we don't have to do it right now, we won't!". Whereas with the Windsor to Kedron section, it is apparently much cheaper to get it done now.

So I guess we'll be stuck with bus lanes from Federation St to Windsor for at least 5-10yrs after completion.

I don't know if anybody has posted these yet, but here they are, various renders related to the project.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/kedron_busway_station.jpg
Kedron Busway Station

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/lutwyche_busway.jpg
Lutwyche Busway station

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/uc_bowen_portal_night_time_view.jpg
The Intersection at the joint of the NSBT and the Airport link tunnels, orthe "Bowen Portal"

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/bowen_hills_working.jpg
A render of going through the Bowen portal.

that aint no cloverleaf chief

^^ I know, but I call anything with that many raised roads a cloverleaf.
So I'll change it.

i like it how all concept renders on civil projects are absolutely shithouse :)

obviously the busway station ones are good but they are not so much civil design

also really like the general busway architecture, still doesnt look too tired i think it will age well

www.brisconnections.com.au is up and running, in a 'coming soon' phase.....

Pictures of the Toombul portal
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/toombul.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/toombul_portal_entry.jpg

It's Bowen Hills btw, not Bowen.

^^Meh, close enough. As far as I know there aren't any other Bowens in Brisbane.
Here is the concluding edition-

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/federation_st_busway_exit.jpg
The Fderation Street Busway Station

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/sonic123488/lutwyche_busway_station.jpg
A different angle of the Lutwyche Busway station, showing the entrance and the Lutwyche road overpass.
And here is the timeline-
July/August 2005: The State Government and Brisbane City Council begin a $21 million detailed feasibility study into Airport Link. Preliminary studies for Northern Busway preferred corridor begin
October 2005: Preferred corridor announced; Coordinator-General declares Airport Link a “significant project” under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971
November 2005: Airport Link Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) investigations begin; Coordinator-General invites comment on draft Terms of Reference for Airport Link EIS. Northern Busway Draft Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP) developed.
March 2006: Preliminary concept designs announced; public comment invited
June 2006: Changes to preliminary concept designs announced; public comment invited
October 2006: Business cases approved; public submissions invited on Airport Link EIS and Northern Busway CDIMP
Februrary 2007: Private sector invited to submit Expressions Of Interest (EOI) in Airport Link and Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) projects
April 2007: EOIs close; four groups respond
May 2007: Airport Link EIS and Northern Busway Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP) approved
June 2007: Three of the four groups that submitted EOIs invited to proceed to the bidding phase
December 2007: Bids close; three groups submit bids; evaluation begins
May 2008: BrisConnections announced as the preferred bidder for Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and the Airport Roundabout upgrade.
June 2008: Public consultation expected to commence on the changes to the project reference designs for the Airport Link and Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) projects.
August 2008: Financial close expected to be completed
Late 2008: Construction expected to commence for the Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Link upgrade projects.
2012: Construction expected to be completed for the Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout upgrade projects.

All the maps for the new Airport Link and Northern Busway alignment are here:

http://www.citynorthinfrastructure.com.au/page_maps.html


After looking at the plans, there are a number of the new changes that I don't like. Most notably, the new northbound onramp from Bowen Bridge Rd onto Airport Link. This to me is too much for the area, and makes it seem more like a freeway plonked in an inner city suburb.

There are very simple reasons why it is a shambles IMO.

1. Airport Link and NSBT are 2 seperate projects and Airport Link is being designed to work with NSBT, and not con-currently such that they work together.

2. Connections to all of the roads / locations is trying to be maximised. This will then increase the potential toll revenue. So in the end you have Bown Bridge Rd, ICB, NSBT and AL all trying to connect to each other (plus some others) in all different directions. Not to mention the busway plus the existing connections and you end up with a big big mess.

edit

yeah im not such a fan of the interchanges as well, but they might work well..

I usually drive from the South Side and it might be that taking the NSBT and then getting on the ICB to get somewhere like Enoggera might be a better alternative then following the SE Freeway all the way on to the Expressway and then the ICB.

Obviously i will have to pay the $4 toll, but if it saves me anything more then 10 minutes i would probably do it.

theres already a comprehensive thread on bris transport in the transport section, but alot of people dont seem to visit that section, so I thought i would start one in the qld section ->

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3694.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3695.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3696.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3697.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3698.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3699.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3702.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/Brisbane%20Busways/IMG_3703.jpg

the current plan of Northern Busway doesnt extend to Chermside does it?
is it necessary to have it linked there?

^^Planning is underway all the way to Bracken Ridge. The Busway is under construction to Windsor and approval has been granted to Kedron.

Does this help?

Posted a few months ago on the SSL thread (http://www.skyscraperlife.com/queensland-main-forum/3419-approved-airportlink-tunnel-northern-busway-bris-connections.html#post69656).

tNc-a0suBTA

^^Planning is underway all the way to Bracken Ridge. The Busway is under construction to Windsor and approval has been granted to Kedron.

Well technically, not all the way to Kedron, from Lutwyche to Kedron and from RWCH to Federation Street

checkout our busway on www.busway.co.nz

This busway is going to be awesome!!!!!!!

I drove past last night and the elevated station at the hospital looks massive, it appears to be at least 15m off the ground - I thought it would have been a lot lower.

is the Northern Busway already under contstruction?

No. It will start later this year I believe.

Very good video of it all.

No. It will start later this year I believe.

From driving past there not so long ago, it appears that construction is already underway

Do you mean Inner Northern busway?

Ahh, of course! The RBH station is part of the INB. Whoops, yes, the INB.

Really? I believe that the INB finishes at the RCH, and the Herston - Windsor section (and RBWH station) forms the first part of the Northern Busway.

There is a RCH Herston station which is for the childrens hospital and is part of the INB.
The new RBH station will be near the general adults hospital I think and is the first part of the NB.

Here is a map of the busway:

http://www.citynorthinfrastructure.com.au/pdfs/maps/may/NB%20Change_V1_map_(bus%20lanes).pdf

Just clearing all confusion.

INB is 100% complete. Northern Busway Stage 1 is under construction from RCH Herston to Federation St. And yes, it is well and truely under construction.

Thanks Maroon Grown - I came here to post the same thing just confirmed by my contact inside the NB Alliance.

^^ lol, you make them sound like underground freedom fighters.

Their mission is to end congestion and improve public transport! NB-Alliance, GO!

Some photos I took a few weeks ago of the Northern Busway construction around the Bowen Hills Rd/Campbell St intersection:

http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/northern_busway/IMG_9333.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/northern_busway/IMG_9334.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/northern_busway/IMG_9336.jpg
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/northern_busway/IMG_9339.jpg

Thanks for that.

It's good to get's some pics on the thread!

No worries.

Hopefully the Brisbane forumers will pick up the slack now that I'm back in Sydney ;)

I should try and get my friend to take photos for us :)

Hey Danubis, you're there fairly regularly aren't you ;)

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/74/northbuswayaerialae5.jpg

An alterative alignment for the Northern Busway I devised a few weeks ago using the old Department of Main Roads preserved transport corridor for the Northern Freeway.

I keep meaning to get some photos of the busway, but its always difficult, because I'm usually driving by at 60km/h.

The RBH stations beams are now in place though, and it looks like the columns across the ICB are coming along well too.

Thankfully they didn't choose your alignment, ABS - what wasteful duplication with the railway. At least the Lutwyche Road alignment serves areas well beyond walking distance of the railway stations.

Lutwhyche Rd is already popular with the 333 service (which the northern busway is replacing) so why change the alignment when you know the best option is down the main road?

I agree with cfk :)

Quite a bit has happened since those recent pics were taken. I walked under it en route to the Ekka on Saturday. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me!

Looks very promising.

ABS, i thought recently that MR put the corridor land back on to the market since they no longer have a use for it. maybe im dreaming it but i swear i recal something of that nature.

also, im not a fan of ur alternative corridor. much happier with the one we've got. primarly because of the rejuvination that will occur along the corridor and the opportunities to intensify land uses around the stations.

The eastern DMR corridor is only a backup plan.

The Northern Busway is too heavily dependent on Airport Link. The current Airport Link project on gives us half a busway, and if things go over budget or Airport Link gets canned then the first thing to get culled will be the completion of the Northern Busway.

The main corridor through Lutwyche is too narrow to retrofit transit lanes and the risk taken by DMR selling off the preserved transport corridor is that there is no backup plan.

I'm concerned we will never see the sections of the Northern Busway built as part of Airport Link joined if things go overbudget.

The Eastern Busway runs the same risk.

The South East Busway also runs parrallel to a railway for sections, but at least there are cost savings by having an above ground corridor.

The only section where the SE busway runs parrallel to the railway is in the inner city, that's just because it was an available corridor. I don't think the Northern Busway will be cut if costs rise on Airport Link. It is in their tender that they are going to deliver it, so they have to. I too am worried however about doing this project section by section. They should be doing at least the Windsor to Kedron section all at once.

once the airport link and northern busway are built, i'd be happy to see lutwyche road converted into a four lane boulevard. get rid of the dominating bitumen presence and plant some trees. lutwyche will be able to accomodate this easily

Absolutely agree, however this is BCC that we're talking about. The ones that are prepared to build a 10 lane upgrade of a part of Milton Road!!!!

Isn't Lutwyche Road controlled by DMR?

I don't think it is. I think DMR gets it at about Aspley.

Isn't Lutwyche Road controlled by DMR?

DMR control on the Gympie Rd/Lutwyche Rd corridor ends at Kedron Park Road. Everything south of there is BCC controlled.

Cheers. Only a little out ;)

The ones that are prepared to build a 10 lane upgrade of a part of Milton Road!!!!

Yet they're cutting Eagle St in half in the city and banning the construction of any more private car parks.

Sending massive mixed messages in my opinion.

Sounds pretty clear for the CBD that the message is: "Don't drive, use PT"

i thought that all the metroads in brisbane were DMR controlled except the ICB.

anyway, what plan does bcc have to 10 lane milton rd? its all gonna be underground as per northern link (or westlink as it would be more appropriately named)

I wish the state government would take control of roads like Mains Road, Coronation Drive and Lutwyche Road off Brisbane City Council.

^^And make them even more car oriented??? At least BCC has PT and other measures in mind whereas Main Roads has one aim and that is to make car travel as easy as possible.

Yeah I'm sure Can Do gives a flying fuck about public transport. Like removing the transit lanes on Coro Drive! :bash::bash::bash:

I don't know how Coro Drive could get more car orientated unless buses were banned.

^^If Main Roads had control you may even see less roads intersecting with Corro with only one or two allowing right turns etc to allow a limited access road. Same with Mains Road and Lutwyche road. They would start to resemble a low speed Highway rather than an arterial road.

The eastern DMR corridor is only a backup plan.

The main corridor through Lutwyche is too narrow to retrofit transit lanes and the risk taken by DMR selling off the preserved transport corridor is that there is no backup plan.



You mean too narrow to add extra lanes... You can easily add transit lanes, just resume two of the existing general use lanes. But I would be going for bus lanes with bus lane cameras to fine violators. Make car travel as irritating as possible and people won't drive.

Besides, the dedicated busway through Lutwyche (including the super cool station underneath Lutwyche Rd) is being built as part of the Airport Link project.

^^And make them even more car oriented??? At least BCC has PT and other measures in mind whereas Main Roads has one aim and that is to make car travel as easy as possible.

Hence why I think TransLink should take control of all major roads (state + council) within SEQ.

^^If Main Roads had control you may even see less roads intersecting with Corro with only one or two allowing right turns etc to allow a limited access road. Same with Mains Road and Lutwyche road. They would start to resemble a low speed Highway rather than an arterial road.

I'd like to see the Coro Drive tidal flow ditched and the road converted to two lanes each way with a landscaped median. Then build a Toowong bypass and reproduce the Nundah Village type streetscape at Toowong Village. Then boost train services to every 5-10 mins all day and delete the direct-to-city bus services east of Indro.

I'm looking forward to the Lutwyche leg of this project starting. The station is being put at the end of my street, and the tunnel is going under the back corner of where i live :)

No doubt i'll be updating pretty regularly with pics & progress updates for you all.

Not much to report so far tho, there was a guy there the other day marking where all the gas/sewerage..etc pipes are with spraypaint.

Make car travel as irritating as possible and people won't drive.

And watch the city choke, yes? Your point is so poorly thought out.

Are you a tradesman? Do you NEED to drive a truck full of tools to multiple worksites every day? Are you a doctor or a solicitor? Do you work from multiple locations each day, often cross-city, requiring a fairly extensive load of paperwork and equipment? Do you own a business that needs road freight to be fast and on-time, all the time, due to hundreds of shipments coming in and going out each day? Do you work in an industrial area or on Brisbane's tradecoast where 95% of all traffic is commercial?

No, I'll bet you're none of these things. Likely a student. Sure as heck, though, you'll feel the effects and complain when the price of goods go up due to transportation costs, or when the economy slows up due to a choked and innefficient capital city that can't handle the most basic of daily traffic movements.

I always say this and I'll say it again - step outside your own little bubble and look at the real world and all that happens in it. WE NEED a good road system. Commercial traffic makes up a huge percentage of of total traffic volumes, whilst scores of people are genuinely unable to use public transport all the time for very practical reasons.

:bash:

Commercial traffic makes up a huge percentage of of total traffic volumes, whilst scores of people are genuinely unable to use public transport all the time for very practical reasons.

:bash:

Would you like to fill us in on this huge percentage? The road network seems to cope just fine when people are not traveling to and from work. Tradespeople, freight etc do a lot of their traveling outside peak hours. The roads are congested with people commuting when they do not need to. The case of people genuinely not being able to access PT, is that a fault of the PT or a fault of the location in which they choose to live. There is a massive amount of land accessible by PT in SEQ and yes there is a lot of that land that is affordable. People don't try hard enough.

Yeah, Coro Drive and Lutwyche Rd are just packed with utes and B-doubles 24/7. :nuts: I would suggest you step outside your little bubble and take a look at the real world.

Brisbane's industrial areas and the TradeCoast are concentrated around the orbital freeway network to ensure ease of access. With the exception of local deliveries (most of which are conducted at night, i.e. groceries, or outside peak hours), trucks do not enter/need to enter the urban area. We would be better off leaving the existing urban road network as is (while still addressing genuine safety concerns where required) and putting all of our effort into decent PT, the orbital freeways (if absolutely necessary) and decentralisation strategies that serve to improve the utilisation of PT infrastructure.

^^And make them even more car oriented??? At least BCC has PT and other measures in mind whereas Main Roads has one aim and that is to make car travel as easy as possible.

The Gold Coast Highway traffic flow and bus lane upgrades from Broadbeach to Miami are a combined TransLink/DMR project. All you need is proper integration, which is not something BCC and DMR have at the moment. Hand over all BCC arterial roads to DMR and you will probably see bus lanes come back a hell of a lot faster as it will all be State Govt, pursuing largely the same agenda.

The Gold Coast Highway traffic flow and bus lane upgrades from Broadbeach to Miami are a combined TransLink/DMR project. All you need is proper integration, which is not something BCC and DMR have at the moment. Hand over all BCC arterial roads to DMR and you will probably see bus lanes come back a hell of a lot faster as it will all be State Govt, pursuing largely the same agenda.

Main Roads would be better as a purely project delivery-focused organisation like NSW's Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation, also with the road maintenance role.

Planning to the point of selecting the project to be implemented and its concept design should be the responsibility of Translink or an organisation with another name with the responsibility for all land use and transport planning in Queensland.

^^Queensland Transport? I do agree with you though. it is a much better idea.

You could call it QT if you want but the current incarnation of QT does not fulfil the role I suggested ;)

Totally agree with you. I am actually a big fan of having a department that deals entirely with planning matters full stop. That allows the ability to pick the best transport mode/land use etc for the purpose.

Back in the early 90s MR + QT were merged to form the Queensland Dept of Transport, aka QDOT. Although they used the old Queensland Transport logo. You can see QDOT plaques on bridges and roads constructed at the time. QDOT was split back to QT + MR when the Coalition came to power (IIRC).

TransLink is not a new invention either. Back in the 1970s we had the MTA - Metropolitan Transit Authority. Their logo was ripped off from the Boston MBTA, it was a circle with a T inside it:

http://www.mbta.com/images/logo-mbta.gif

Several plaques bear this logo, such as the one at South Brisbane station at the city end of platform 2. The authority disbanded in 1985 after BCC got the shits because they perceived there to be a bias towards rail (hence why I still think BT should be split out of BCC). The MTA was responsible for the electrification of the rail network, the cross river rail link, new underground lines in the CBD (stage II of the cross river rail link, obviously never started) and a large-scale modernisation of railway stations (think Petrie, Beenleigh, Kingston etc). They also started replacing direct-to-city buses with feeder buses to railway stations (Enogerra interchange was their flagship project) and trunk bus routes.

And it all went down the shitter because of bloody clowncil.

Thanks for sharing the insight Trent - very interesting.

agreed interesting post trent. also frustrating when you wonder what some of these organisations could have done had they been given a chance! the MTA body sounds like it was very effective in its time.

my experience (not employment fyi) with main roads is that it is a stiff, monolithic and unproductive organisation. the superior functional DMR/QDOT/TL separation discussed above will have to happen. if it doesnt happen soon enough there will be no chance of organisational evolution and DMR will have to be broken into the shape of its new mould.

i sometimes wonder what things would be like if they never set up translink, my life is more convenient because of translink and i dont even use PT much!

i guess when it comes to change have to take the good with the bad

my experience (not employment fyi) with main roads is that it is a stiff, monolithic and unproductive organisation.


:lol: funny coz its true. well they are productive but only at producing more roads for more cars. :bash:

never have i seen a MR project that has actually improved the amenity for an area once it has completed. it is same old bitumen, broom finish pathways, red paver print medians, plywood sound barriers and weed infested garden beds. anyone would think an engineer designed it all ;)

:lol: funny coz its true. well they are productive but only at producing more roads for more cars. :bash:

never have i seen a MR project that has actually improved the amenity for an area once it has completed. it is same old bitumen, broom finish pathways, red paver print medians, plywood sound barriers and weed infested garden beds. anyone would think an engineer designed it all ;)

Agreed. If only they were as open to roadside art as Vicroads is. Unless someone explained it to me I wouldn't have a clue of what half the shit alongside their freeways is supposed to represent but at least it looks interesting and provides a discussion point... Vicroads does an excellent job at creating aesthetically pleasing roads, but layout wise some of their roads are shit. For example exit spacing is much closer (every 1 to 1.5 km) than it is up here (2+ km, Ipswich Mwy excepted of course) and this causes spectacular traffic jams and weaving.

As for the MTA, infrastructure-wise it seemed to be a pretty progressive organisation but they focused on infrastructure at the expense of integrated ticketing. I suspect BCC's bullshit was partly to blame for this, but they existed for like 10 years and managed to achieve nothing in this area. So even though they improved the efficiency and coverage of the network with feeder buses, people were being penalised for using them, so patronage continued to decline. Unfortunately it's this bad experience with the trunk and feeder model that has allowed the single-seat journey bullshit to return and persist until this day.

Where TransLink is better than the MTA is that it went about things the other way, by integrating the ticketing system first. This coupled with service improvements and population growth has not only improved patronage but cost recovery, thus boosting the viability of services that wouldn't have otherwise existed (think bus routes like the 209 and especially 139).

if you want to find out why all DMR roads are featureless check out some of these thrilling and easy-to-use documents

http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/partnersCR.nsf/DOCINDEX/Standard+Specifications+Roads+-+Current

still confuses me how the gateway upgrade is almost a $2b project over 20km long and the aesthetic highlight is a few landscaped mounds with orange and purple uplights. thats the creativity you get when you have DMR stipulating your choices.

(think bus routes like the 209 and especially 139).

*cough* 393 *cough* is a much worse offender then those two! But I get what you mean in that Cross Town services are a bit of a luxury and you need to have the cashflow to support it.

if you want to find out why all DMR roads are featureless check out some of these thrilling and easy-to-use documents

http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/partnersCR.nsf/DOCINDEX/Standard+Specifications+Roads+-+Current


And check out the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) if you want to understand why our signs and line marking are so crap compared to the southern states. The standards and examples in that file date from the 1980s, when our roads carried about half the traffic they currently do.

I liked the 393, it took me from Bulimba to work at Roma Street great!

When running to Roma Street it did have some sort of purpose, but now that it stops at Normanby........ Well we could add a couple of more 130's of an Afternoon, which seems like the in thing to do.

When running to Roma Street it did have some sort of purpose, but now that it stops at Normanby........ Well we could add a couple of more 130's of an Afternoon, which seems like the in thing to do.

The thing that annoys me with the 130 in the arvo is that the alternate routes that cover the same stops are almost empty sometimes - because everyone is (unnecessarily) catching the 130.

Alt routes include 129, 131, 133, 137 and to a lesser degree 135 and 136.

These alternate routes therefore finish sooner due to lack of demand (eg. 129 has only 5 services in the afternoon despite having 9 in the morning - last is at 5:24) - and I don't really blame translink for running it that way, because everyone is catching the 130 instead.

Oh, and another thing that annoys me with the 130, is people that get on at the Myer Centre and then get off at the Cultural Centre or Southbank. Usually the bus is so busy that not everyone gets on, so these idiots are using places that could otherwise be taken by people who are actually traveling to the intended destination of the route - can't they just *walk* (heaven forbid) or at least catch a dedicated busway service such as the 111 or 160... ok, I'll stop my rant now. (I've been back on PT since Christmas and am remembering why I hated it so much...)

Edit: Sorry - that was a little off topic...

^^ Totally agree with you about the "stop hoppers" on the 130. Bugs the shit out of me. Even more annoying when it's a full standing load and people getting off at South Bank sit in a seat right at the back, so everyone has to squish up to let them off. Luckily they run sweeper services from the Cultural Centre in the afternoon to pick up the leftover passengers.

Then there are the people who get on at Sunnybank and get off at Turton (when heading south) or Robertson (when heading north). FFS it's like 350-500 metres, it would be quicker to walk (5 to 10 mins) than wait for the bus.

*cough* 393 *cough* is a much worse offender then those two! But I get what you mean in that Cross Town services are a bit of a luxury and you need to have the cashflow to support it.

You could argue that the 66 largely replaces the 393. What doomed the 393 from day one was the shit positioning of the bus stops at BH station and the traffic congestion it had to get through to reach the busway (due to the tunnel construction and poor traffic light spacings/timings). Quite often you'd spend 15, 20 minutes sitting in traffic on O'Connell Tce in peak hour. Perhaps they should have started it at Albion Station (Caboolture, Shorncliffe, Doomben, Nambour lines). Then run it across the overpass, down Albion Rd, left on to Lutwyche Rd, interchange with FG line at Windsor, then on to the busway at Herston.

^^ Totally agree with you about the "stop hoppers" on the 130. Bugs the shit out of me. Even more annoying when it's a full standing load and people getting off at South Bank sit in a seat right at the back, so everyone has to squish up to let them off. Luckily they run sweeper services from the Cultural Centre in the afternoon to pick up the leftover passengers.

Then there are the people who get on at Sunnybank and get off at Turton (when heading south) or Robertson (when heading north). FFS it's like 350-500 metres, it would be quicker to walk (5 to 10 mins) than wait for the bus.

Lol - yeah that is just silly also (both the people sitting right at the back but getting off in the first few stops, and Sunnybank - Turton St etc.

I think we could probably do a whole thread on annoying Public Transport habits.

One more from me - people who are traveling the entire route but get on the bus and stand at the front or only half way up the isle despite the fact there is clearly a large volume of people yet to get on, who then have to try and get past the people who have stopped in the isle...

The thing that annoys me with the 130 in the arvo is that the alternate routes that cover the same stops are almost empty sometimes - because everyone is (unnecessarily) catching the 130.

Alt routes include 129, 131, 133, 137 and to a lesser degree 135 and 136.

These alternate routes therefore finish sooner due to lack of demand (eg. 129 has only 5 services in the afternoon despite having 9 in the morning - last is at 5:24) - and I don't really blame translink for running it that way, because everyone is catching the 130 instead.

Oh, and another thing that annoys me with the 130, is people that get on at the Myer Centre and then get off at the Cultural Centre or Southbank. Usually the bus is so busy that not everyone gets on, so these idiots are using places that could otherwise be taken by people who are actually traveling to the intended destination of the route - can't they just *walk* (heaven forbid) or at least catch a dedicated busway service such as the 111 or 160... ok, I'll stop my rant now. (I've been back on PT since Christmas and am remembering why I hated it so much...)

Edit: Sorry - that was a little off topic...

It is pretty annoying, but you could argue that the 'stop hoppers' who get off at Cultural Centre then create extra seats for people getting ON at Cultural Centre, when it would otherwise be a completely full service.


Also the issue about the 130 and alt routes is similar to the 199 - you could argue that the 470 (which travels down Elizabeth Street instead of Adelaide Street, to go on to Teneriffe through James Street instead of Brunswick/Merthyr) is covering similar territory, yet is quite under-utilised. If they used the same stops on Adelaide Street as the 199, it could probably take some of the slack from the 199.

It is pretty annoying, but you could argue that the 'stop hoppers' who get off at Cultural Centre then create extra seats for people getting ON at Cultural Centre, when it would otherwise be a completely full service.

Good point. It would seem that somebody might lose no matter which way it is done.

if you want to find out why all DMR roads are featureless check out some of these thrilling and easy-to-use documents

http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/partnersCR.nsf/DOCINDEX/Standard+Specifications+Roads+-+Current

still confuses me how the gateway upgrade is almost a $2b project over 20km long and the aesthetic highlight is a few landscaped mounds with orange and purple uplights. thats the creativity you get when you have DMR stipulating your choices.

whilst i agree that the melbourne roads look pretty good, i think it is a horrible waste of cash..

This may seem like a silly question, but how are you supposed to be innovative (in terms of design, use of materials etc.) when you have to build to MR specifications. Excuse my ignorance, but is there much room to move within these?!

The artwork would be separate to the design of the road. The innovation would be on the things that aren't criticle to the operation of the road.

A heap of photos, taken today

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9976/p7150016qb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4013/p7150017hg4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9440/p7150019ze2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3325/p7150020lh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3517/p7150021cc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3322/p7150023jj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/392/p7150024ym2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1884/p7150025bu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3950/p7150026vm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9454/p7150027zb1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3273/p7150028ka9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6884/p7150030vx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7180/p7150032lp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8756/p7150036aq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That'sone monolithic structure!!!

Wow, quite a shadowing effect going on. I hope there's some decent treatment to help soften the impact.

A heap of photos, taken today

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8756/p7150036aq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

makes the riverside expressway look downright pretty

makes the riverside expressway look downright pretty

To be fair, its hardly finished. As I said, lets see what kind of visual treatment they give it.

When compared to an at grade Busway, I think it is better. Could you imagine the width the pavement would have to be!

Traffic Chaos at the RBH yesterday. It was reduced to one lane each way in the morning and into the afternoon as well. People may think things are quiet on Weekends and they are too an extent, but not Saturday mornings, they really can be quite a nightmare at times.

didn't realise the vast scale of this project - little overwhelming to be honest.

To be fair, its hardly finished. As I said, lets see what kind of visual treatment they give it.

exactly. Abi's civil team is on site at the moment, the building guys in charge of the actual station..etc are a long way off.

Looking at it closer, the largest part is where the station will be - so I'm guessing there's going to be ground-level landscaping and access to the station improving the look of things underneath the station.

it would be similar to the South Bank Busway station
the underneath part that is

^^ coke and chip machines??

Oooh... Yes please. *waves hand*.

I think yeah, that photo makes it look particularly bad, but that's just because that's where the station is. You can see towards the southern end how much thinner it will be where it is just busway.

i just want them to start Eastern Busway asap (not Boggo Rd Busway part)

i just want them to start Eastern Busway asap (not Boggo Rd Busway part)
If any busway should be heavy rail it is this one.

If any busway should be heavy rail it is this one.

but with the way they are going...

If any busway should be heavy rail it is this one.

Why??? Whatever is wrong with a Busway? Especially given that Brisbane has an existing busway network... Busways are more flexible due to the possibility of feeder routes servicing adjacent suburbs, whilst they integrate better with Brisbane's existing PT network. Light rail is both more expensive and more rigid (trains can't leave the tracks, stations are limited).

I fail to see any really persuasive reason why the Eastern Busway should be a rail line. Rail probably has a slightly higher capacity, but for Brisbane's requirements, buses are more than enough if flowing regularly.

Why??? Whatever is wrong with a Busway? Especially given that Brisbane has an existing busway network... Busways are more flexible due to the possibility of feeder routes servicing adjacent suburbs, whilst they integrate better with Brisbane's existing PT network. Light rail is both more expensive and more rigid (trains can't leave the tracks, stations are limited).

I fail to see any really persuasive reason why the Eastern Busway should be a rail line. Rail probably has a slightly higher capacity, but for Brisbane's requirements, buses are more than enough if flowing regularly.

Theyre going to convert them over to run both in the near future anyway so why not save heaps of disruption at a later date and construct them with the rail already in place. Shit I hate the absolute near sighted short term vision of our government.

^^I don't think the conversion to light rail will ever happen. Too difficult and just easier to build a new line as the extra capacity is negligible.

im not sure whether there is another thread for the windsor to kedron section, however early works have begun at kedron with the removal of trees, houses and the erection of construction fences around properties across from the KP Hotel.

Actually budget problems in airport link will not affect the construction of the Northern busway to Kedron.

A condition has been put on the contract that BrisConnections can not charge tolls on Airport Link until the northern busway to Sadlier St, Kedron has been operating for at least 2 months successfully.

Funding for BrisConnections has been underwritten by Macquarie infrastructure group, although the share price has been battered in the short term by the credit market crunch.

that's interesting and good to know about the tolls, hopefully that means they both open around the same time as well, it would be good to get a few free rides on the new road before they actually start tolling it.

... share price has been battered in the short term by the credit market crunch.

First installment A$1 (Total $3 per share)
Share price close today 0.001c :ohno:

Surely they must follow Rivercity motorway in scrapping the dividend.

What is the mathmatix on that? From $1 a share to 0.1c?

^^ Correction...0.001c

it's gone up to 0.003c

it's gone up to 0.003c

Yay!!!

:toilet:

I'm not selling. It would be a massive loss... it will come up one day..... :ohno:

On the bright side, it tripled in value...

First installment A$1 (Total $3 per share)
Share price close today 0.001c :ohno:

Surely they must follow Rivercity motorway in scrapping the dividend.

The problem with this stock is that it cannot trade to -$2 – which it should be able to. Effectively the market is pricing the stock at least -33% below its issue price. Instalments are a load of rubbish as the stock is constrained in how much it can fall. Tip: never buy instalments.

I still don't get the mathmatix. Is that a $1 share now worth 0.01c?

Well that $1 is actually $3 - however, the other $2 cannot be traded just yet.

So effectivey the stock is worth $2.003.

The market is effectively saying that the stock is worth less than $2 - however, because it can only trade within a $1 range (until the other $2 is paid), it is trading at near zero. I wonder how many "warren buffet" try hards are looking at this and thinking wow $0.001 is good value (but neglecting to understand that if they buy it, the will have to pay an extra $2 in 12-months).

are there any updates on how this is going?

Its coming along well. They are constructing a ramp from the current busway portal near the RCH station and building an elevated section outside of the RBH along Bowen Bridge Road. Hopefully somebody who travels to the area regularly can take some pics because it is really shaping up. It seems significantly higher than the SE Busway elevated section and its quite a monstrosity, but at least its being built.

Its been on my to do list, honest. However im going away for two weeks so I wont get a camera pointed anywhere near it until after the New Year. It really is taking shape though, most of the structure from the RCH Station portal to the new station for RBH is done and connected, however that is just massive pieces of prefab concrete. Still it has all happen reasonably quickly which is good to see.

I may be able to make a photo run on Sunday morning, it's been a while since the last ones I took, driving past yesterday I noticed there is a lot more in place than then.

Taken this morning

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7884/pa010001xu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2900/pa010002ig7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/8314/pa010003ym1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2018/pa010004cp9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/5158/pa010008mb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wooow it's making great progress!

Thanks for the piccies :D

Good shots. Going through there on the bus everyday I'm still amazed by how high the platform is going to be.

until the rest of the northern busway is finished this is a just a really exspensive extension

the size of it is pretty amazing though

Good shots. Going through there on the bus everyday I'm still amazed by how high the platform is going to be.

going to be a great view going into the city every morning! :D

The Share price (ASX: BCSCA) is now: 0.1 c.

It has lost 66% of its value since Macca-GC looked it up on Oct 26th when it was three tenths of a cent. What a scary ride!

Unit holders have until 15/04/09 to dispose of their holdings or they will be up for the next $1 installment. The share price might tank in the lead up to this date as those without the money look to get out.

However, I'm not sure whether it is possible to go below one tenth of a cent.

The Share price (ASX: BCSCA) is now: 0.1 c.

It has lost 66% of its value since Macca-GC looked it up on Oct 26th when it was three tenths of a cent. What a scary ride!

Unit holders have until 15/04/09 to dispose of their holdings or they will be up for the next $1 installment. The share price might tank in the lead up to this date as those without the money look to get out.

However, I'm not sure whether it is possible to go below one tenth of a cent.

that share price is a little misleading, it is effectively $2.01/share at the moment, but will more then likely drop well below that once the second installment has being called upon.

There was a article the other day saying Brisconnections have started talking to financier about getting the money for the second installment, it looks like Macquarie are going to have to cough up a fair bit of cash in the next few months.

Brisconnections this week has sent out shareholders a fact sheet about the second installment. It goes on to say that unit holders have a legal obligation to pay the second amount.

i cant say i feel sorry for the people who bought these shares without researching them first, even if they did the slightest big of research they would have discovered they would have to pay another installment..

I know some people bought the shares with no intentions of holding them long enough to pay the second installment, many people thought they would make a bit of cash and sell them before the installment was due. Cant say i feel sorry for these people either, you accept that liability when you invest in something.

just an update for those who don't often get over to the northside. this is both airport link and the busway

Old Windsor Town Hall has been moved on to stilts 100m down the road into the park with all the pine trees.

All the properties from Bradshaw St northwards along Lutwyche Rd have now been fenced off ready for demolition

All the properties required for resuption near the Kedron Park Hotel have been levelled. It looks like a tornado has torn through there. nothin is left standing

The old Kalinga Park sports fields are now a construction site. Trees have been cleared near East West Arterial and the fields have been fenced off for a site office.

Thanks Maroon Grown, I was wandering how it was going.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3127039440_8534393198_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/3126208989_42878dff82_o.jpg

im still dubious about the Northern Busway, at Windsor there its just running on the local streets

im still dubious about the Northern Busway, at Windsor there its just running on the local streets there

it's a tunnel at windsor isn't it?

From my understanding it is onstreet bus lanes initially with a tunnel in the long run.

^^ Yet again, the southern suburbs get the best. The SE and Eastern Busways both have dedicated infrastructure thoughout the length of the route.

For some reason, we always get the best? Northerners must be spewing. Especially since congestion is actually much worse up there.

I think its due to logistics rather than "hatin' on the north side".

^^ Yet again, the southern suburbs get the best. The SE and Eastern Busways both have dedicated infrastructure thoughout the length of the route.

For some reason, we always get the best? Northerners must be spewing. Especially since congestion is actually much worse up there.

haha. yeah but the SEB was built in motorway corridor. hardly an engineering challenge.

the eastern busway will take YEARS to even just get to carindale, let alone capalaba (if at all)

the northern will ulitimately be totally in tunnel to kedron. even without it now, it combined with the airport link are the biggest road infrastructure project ever taken on in oz.

the southside may have had the best during the 80s and 90s, but the northside is now emerging as the hotspot for infrastructure today.

This morning

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2217/pb260003lv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7300/pb260007ny0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2677/pb260012nd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2005/pb260015qu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1552/pb260016uw7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/236/pb260017ef1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/295/pb260018ql7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/610/pb260019qv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6735/pb260020kn0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5837/pb260021hw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3404/pb260022sv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow, great shots!