Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Extra congestion busting works for Gateway Bridge duplication

Premier Anna Bligh enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the Gateway Bridge duplication today as she announced new “value added” lanes for the congestion busting project.

The Premier stood almost 20m above ground - on the first completed span of the new bridge - as she announced additional works that increase a section of the Gateway Upgrade Project from four to six lanes.

The 1km section to be upgraded is north of the new airport interchange and includes a 740m bridge over the Kedron Brook floodplain.

“A state government project that was already going to have a massive impact on urban congestion will now have an even bigger impact,” said Premier Bligh.

“Queensland Motorways and the contractor have reached an agreement to construct these additional lanes as part of the state government’s $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project.

“They are using $10 million worth of savings they have found during construction of the project to ‘close the gap’ in the new 7km motorway.

“This is a great result for the people of south east Queensland. It makes this congestion busting project even better and it won’t cost the tax payer an extra cent.

“My government is spending $1.6 million every hour of every day building and rebuilding infrastructure and it is always great to see some extra value added.”

In the original design the section from the Gateway Bridge to the airport interchange was to be six lanes moving to four lanes at the Kedron Brook bridge.

“The addition of the new lanes north to Nudgee Road closes the gap, making the seven kilometres of new motorway through airport land six lanes all the way, and improving access to and from the airport” said the Premier.

Progress on the second Gateway Bridge is ahead of schedule and work on the first full approach span was completed in less than two months.

Main Road’s Minister Warren Pitt said the Gateway Upgrade Project, which includes the duplicate bridge and 20 kilometres of motorway upgrades was setting the pace for infrastructure delivery in Queensland.

“The bridge is well on its way to providing significant benefits to south-east Queensland motorists, offering an additional six lanes and a pedestrian cycle path over the Brisbane River by 2010,” he said.

“Since mid-March the first bridge segments have been lifted into place, cantilevered from two piers and joined in the middle.

“To accomplish this in less than two months is a great achievement.”

Each 71 metre-long span is made up of 48 pre-cast concrete segments, weighing over 70 tonnes apiece.

Queensland Motorways CEO Phil Mumford said the process of match casting had saved the project considerable time.

“Using match casting technology, each segment is used as a mould for the next, creating a perfect fit,” Mr Mumford said.

“More than a year into construction, the second Gateway Bridge is visibly staking its claim on Brisbane’s skyline alongside its 22 year-old twin

“All foundations for the bridge are complete, the project has now completed manufacturing the last of more than 1,800 pre-cast octagonal piles and completed construction of the 45 metre high, twin-column pier on the southern bank of the Brisbane River.”

The 12 km upgrade south of the bridge to Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road, and construction of seven kilometres of new motorway, north to Nudgee Road through airport land, are on schedule for completion in 2009.

Ms Bligh said the Queensland Government considers the Gateway, Logan and Port of Brisbane Motorways, operated by Queensland Motorways, as key transport links vital to the Queensland economy.

Premiers 07 32244500

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