A long road to gridlock
Reader poll
What is the answer to Ipswich's traffic congestion?
This poll ended on 22 February 2013.
More roads and bridges
A better public transport system
Cap population growth
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
IPSWICH motorists will battle rising traffic congestion over the next 20 years as the volume of cars on the city's roads is forecast to triple by 2031.
Ipswich City Council released the staggering figures after a study found Ipswich roads would carry 1.5 million car trips a day.
In 2006, 500,000 car trips were made on Ipswich roads.
City Infrastructure chairwoman Cr Cheryl Bromage said the figures would be included in a scoping paper used in the Ipswich Transport Plan.
"The ITP will be focused on the year 2031, the current planning horizon for the Ipswich Long
Term Community Plan, the SEQ Regional Plan and Connecting SEQ 2031," she said.
"It will also be underpinned by the demographic forecast information for 2031 prepared by council and the Queensland Government."
Data collected outside of school holidays showed peak hour traffic consistent throughout the city.
Mayor Paul Pisasale said a ring road could be one solution to relieving future traffic congestion.
Cr Pisasale said in his role as chair of the National Growth Areas Alliance it was noted that areas like Ipswich needed backing from state and federal governments for projects such as a ring road. He said a ring road was among council plans to "retro-fit" the Ipswich CBD.
A proposed route took in Brassall, Booval, Saddliers Crossing, Eastern Heights, Blackstone and East Ipswich.
"What people do at all levels of government is bring down budgets which get them re-elected," he said. "It should be what's best for the people."
