Western Bypass

[KJBrissy]

Interesting news:

Western bypass study gets green light
Tony Moore | March 28, 2007 - 7:38PM

The State Government has announced it will move ahead with work to plan a western bypass of Brisbane, Main Roads confirmed this afternoon.

Acting Transport Minister Desley Boyle said Main Roads had decided to move ahead with the study, despite no funding from the Federal Government.

"The State has written to the Federal Government twice outlining the $17 million cost of the study but there has been a deafening silence from Canberra," Ms Boyle said.

"Nonetheless, the State Government is pushing ahead with a planning study for a western bypass of Brisbane despite being abandoned by the Federal Government, yet again.

The concept is to bypass traffic to the west of Brisbane towards the Caboolture hinterland and link in with the Bruce Highway.

No route has been considered.

Ms Boyle said the Department of Main Roads understood it was a crucial future project.

"The State Government wrote to the Federal Roads Minister again just last month asking for a 50/50 contribution for the study but has not received a response.

"That's despite Canberra previously requesting the State Government to make a formal submission for funding so the study could be done jointly.

"Main Roads doesn't want to go it alone on the study but something has to be done. This issue is too important to the motoring public of South East Queensland.

"Despite the lack of interest from Canberra, Main Roads is pushing ahead with the study.

"Canberra's indifference contrasts with its preparedness to spend an extra $1.2 billion dollars on an 8km Goodna Bypass which nobody wants.

The RACQ this morning demanded a western bypass come back onto the planning agenda for South East Queensland after a string of accidents on the Gateway Motorway strangled traffic in inner-city Brisbane.

RACQ external affairs manager Gary Fites and economics spokesman Ken Willett both argued a western bypass would provide a outer ring road which would relieve traffic on the Ipswich and Gateway motorways.

They argued for the State Government to push ahead with the planning and demand the Federal Government fund the chosen option because it would link national highways.

In other infrastructure-related news, Acting Premier Anna Bligh delivers the keynote speech at the Queensland Infrastructure Summit at Rydges Hotel tomorrow morning.

She will talk on the position of the state government as the interface between the federal government and the private sector in delivering important infrastructure.

[SoulVision]

So where exactly does this connect? the Ipswich Motorway to the Gateway??

[KJBrissy]

No-one knows exactly as that is what the money is going towards to find out, but it will start from near where the Ipswich Motorway Bypass is to be and finish at the Bruce Highway probably near Caboolture. A highly required road in Brisbane IMO, but politically dangerous.

[SoulVision]

Oh right! so to the North! This would be an excellent start for an "Orbital" type road Sydney just completed.

[KJBrissy]

It would actually complete the Orbital road! we would have a loop with the Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway and the Western Bypass. Add to the the Northern Link, NSBT and the Airport Link! We would then have an Orbital road with a strikethrough from SW to NE and a half strikethrough from SE to the centre!