Project DescriptionThe Ipswich Motorway is the principal arterial road from Brisbane's west, connecting to the Logan Motorway at Gailes, the Centenary Highway at Darra and wha is known as the 'Brisbane Urban Corridor' through Brisbane's southern suburbs to the Gateway Motorway in the east. This, in turn, links to the Port of Brisbane and the Brisbane International Airport. The motorway serves Brisbane's south west industrial and transport hub. The mainly four-lane motorway carries more than 80,000 vehicles a day. Traffic is congested in peak periods, while vehicle numbers are expected to grow as the Ipswich region becomes home to 800,000 people under the Queensland Government strategy for the development of South East Queensland. The Australian Government is committed to upgrading the Ipswich Motorway, to improve safety and efficiency of the road and relieve traffic congestion. Works include: BenefitsSouth East Queensland is Australia's fastest growing urban region and Ipswich is the centre of an expanding population node. Such growth will have a major impact on transport and other infrastructure, particularlyon urban connectors that have reached their capacity. The Ipswich Motorway operates at capacity in peak periods and displays a high incidence of crashes. Safety will be improved on the Ipswich Motorway by increasing the capacity and improving the road design. The upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway will allow free-flowing access for inter-regional freight movements to the Brisbane Markets, the Port of Brisbane and the export industries hub being developed at the mouth of the Brisbane River. FundingAustralian Government funding for the Ipswich Motorway is being provided through the Nation Building Program (NBP) and the Building Australia Fund (BAF) and includes: - $1.95 billion committment for Dinmore to Goodna ($1.2 billion NBP and $750 million BAF);
$255 million for the Ipswich/Logan Interchange (NBP); $700 million for Wacol to Darra Stage 1 (NBP); $124 million for Wacol to Darra Stage 2 (BAF); - $30.9 million for Ipswich Motorway Interim Safety Works (NBP);
$70 million for the Goodna Bypass Corridor preservation (NBP); and $10 million for Darra to Rocklea planning (BAF).
TimetableAn interim package of Ipswich Motorway safety and other construction works is nearing completion. This included improvements to the Granard Road interchange which were completed in August 2006. Work began on the major interchange at the Logan Motorway/Ipswich Motorway junction in February 2007 and was completed in November 2009. Construction of the Wacol to Darra Stage 1 section commenced in March 2008 and was completed in April 2010. Stage 2 was also completed in April 2010. Construction on the Dinmore to Goodna section commenced in June 2009 and is expected to be completed by late 2012. The Darra to Rocklea planning project is underway and is expected to be completed by mid 2010. |