A congestion-busting road project could be scrapped within seven days, Brisbane Civic Cabinet Chair for Infrastructure Andrew Wines has warned.
The $92 million Beams Road upgrade is one of dozens of Brisbane projects left in limbo by the Federal Labor Government’s 90-day review of infrastructure funding.
Cr Wines said the future of the jointly-funded project is now at a critical stage after Labor’s review forced Council to pause awarding the tender.
“I’m advised the tenders submitted for the Beams Road project will expire on August 7, in just a weeks’ time,” he said.
“If the Federal Government can’t make up its mind by then it will mean one of two things.
“Either this much-needed upgrade to Beams Road is scrapped entirely, which is bad news for Brisbane motorists.
“Or new tenders will be required at a later stage which will result in the project cost increasing by tens of millions of dollars, which is bad news for taxpayers.
“Council has already spent over $17 million on early works for Beams Road and invested in a significant stockpile of concrete pipes for this and other projects,” he said.
“It shouldn’t take a Canberra bureaucrat 90 days to figure out that this project stacks up.
“All they need to do is go down there one morning or afternoon during peak times to see how congested Beams Road is.”
The upgrade, addressing more than 2km of the beams road corridor will reduce congestion by widening Beams Road to four lanes and improving intersections between Lacey and Handford roads while also incorporating significant public and active transport solutions.
Cr Wines said the Federal Government should be investing in Brisbane roads, not cutting projects.
“Brisbane is the fastest growing capital city in Australia right now,” Cr Wines said.
“Interstate and international migration rates indicate that’s not going to change any time soon.
“Now is the time to be investing more in our transport and infrastructure network, not stripping money from important projects that will help Brisbane motorists get home sooner and safer.
“Our Council is playing its part by investing in important road upgrades, like the Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade Project, and public and active transport solutions, like the Brisbane Metro and green bridges.
“By ripping money from our road projects, Federal Labor is condemning motorists to gridlock and demonstrating they’re more interested in Sydney and Melbourne.
“Short-sighted decisions to ditch investment in our transport and infrastructure network now will only make the cost of tackling congestion far more in the future.”
Brisbane projects impacted by Federal Labor’s 90-day review include:
- Beams Road level crossing removal (QLD State Government project)
- Lindum level crossing (QLD State Gov project, delivered by Council)
- $11.7M worth of Council road projects funded by the 2023-24 Roads to Recovery program
- $11.7M worth of Council road and infrastructure projects funded by the 2023-24 Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program
- Approximately $3M worth of Council road safety upgrades through the Black Spot program annually
- Boundary Road (Coopers Plains), level crossing removal (QLD State Government project)
For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Head to www.adrianschrinner.com.au/brisbane-news to keep up to date with what’s happening in Brisbane.
