Contract for the Gateway Upgrade North project signed today
A major upgrade of the Gateway Motorway from Nudgee to Bracken Ridge reached a significant milestone today with the signing of a contract for Lend Lease Engineering to design and construct a large component of the $1.162 billion jointly-funded project.
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs and Queensland Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Mark Bailey said the motorway would be widened to six lanes all the way from Nudgee to Bracken Ridge.
Mr Briggs said the major upgrade would deliver significant economic benefits to Queensland and would fix one of Queensland’s most congested and important motorways.
“Boosting the capacity of the Gateway Motorway will enhance safety, ease congestion and improve freight movements between the Port of Brisbane and the Brisbane Airport,” Mr Briggs said.
“Those improvements will deliver significant road safety gains and alleviate congestion problems on a section of the motorway now used by over 80,000 motorists a day.”
“Last year, the Australian Government delivered the biggest infrastructure investment in the state’s history to jointly build world class projects like the Gateway Upgrade North, and the multi-billion dollar Bruce Highway upgrade and the Toowoomba Bypass.”
Minister Bailey said the Gateway Motorway upgrade, expected to be completed in late 2018, would meet the future transport needs of the rapidly-growing region.
“As an added bonus, these major works will sustain more than 1,000 jobs at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever.”
“As well as two extra lanes along an 11.3 kilometre stretch of the motorway, wider road shoulders will be built, on and off-ramps will be extended, new safety barriers will be installed and local drivers will be separated from busy motorway traffic, reducing the need to weave across lanes in peak travel times.
“The Deagon deviation between Depot Road and Bracken Ridge will be widened to accommodate two lanes in both directions. This will create a smoother traffic flow by allowing motorists to travel on two, new northbound lanes for direct access to Redcliffe.
As part of the project, the Nudgee Interchange would be reconfigured with a new Nudgee Road overpass and an extended northbound on-ramp. Similar improvements will be made to both ramps at the Bicentennial Road interchange. Off-road pathways will enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians along the route. The Australian Government has committed up to $929.58 million and the Queensland Government $232.42 million to the Gateway Upgrade North project.
Source: News Release, Queensland Government, 10 July, 2015