Minister to announce hwy expansion
SPRINGFIELD'S main transport artery will have its capacity doubled, with the two-lane Centenary Hwy to become four, Transport Minister Scott Emerson will announce today.
Mr Emerson said the project, to be completed in early 2014, was funded from savings found in the $475 million Springfield rail line project.
The project includes two new north and southbound lanes; a new on-ramp to be built from Logan Motorway westbound to the Centenary Hwy southbound and three new road bridges over the 7km stretch of highway.
Mr Emerson said the savings were found in a review of the project.
"As part of our review of all spending, we were able to remove Labor's gold plating and deliver greater benefits to the community for the same money," he said.
"Adding two new lanes will have safety benefits for this rapidly growing area of south-east Queensland.
"Motorists who travel along Centenary Hwy, particularly in the morning and afternoon peaks, will know how desperately this upgrade is needed to ease traffic congestion for all road users."
Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller said the plan was "half-baked", and the Centenary-Logan interchange needed a major upgrade.
"This means there will be four lanes of parked traffic rather than two," she said.
But Ipswich City Council's planning chief Cr Paul Tully said the project would be welcome.
"There are traffic jams there every morning because it is only two lanes," he said.
"This will piggyback on the Richlands to Springfield rail project; it will mean the four lanes will be adjacent to the railway line."
For more information phone 1800 067 684 (free call), email info@trackstar.com.au.
