Traffic is flowing more smoothly on one of south-east Queensland’s busiest roads as a two-year project to widen sections of the Logan and Gateway Motorways comes to an end.
Transurban Queensland’s $512 million Logan Enhancement Project has fixed the troublesome bottleneck where the Logan Motorway connects with Beaudesert Road and the Mount Lindesay Highway.
The upgrade also delivers vast improvements to the cramped Wembley Road interchange with a new four-lane bridge over the motorway, a better interchange with the Gateway Motorway and new on and off ramps for the Gateway Motorway at Compton Road.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project – promised, started and completed under her Government, providing 1300 jobs during construction – would mean quicker trips and fewer traffic jams for cars and trucks.
“We know Queenslanders want to spend less time in traffic and more time at home with their families and friends, and that’s what projects like this do,” the Premier said.
“This extra bridge at Wembley Road will fix the notorious jams and cut travel times for locals crossing the motorway between Browns Plains and Logan Central.
“This upgrade is also about improving freight productivity and supporting local businesses and jobs.
“Berrinba has quickly established itself as an important southside freight hub.
“Those businesses need quick and convenient access for trucks to connect with major highways heading north and south of Brisbane, and that’s what this project has delivered.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the project provided 15km of new lanes, unlocked some of the south east’s busiest motorway interchanges and provided new connections to the Gateway Motorway at Compton Road.
“More than 170,000 motorists use the Logan and Gateway Extension Motorways every day,” Mr Bailey said.
“Communities further up the Mount Lindesay Highway like Flagstone and Yarrabilba are growing, so it’s important that these important connection points across the motorway meet that growing local demand.
“A new 2km bike and pedestrian path has also been built as part of the project, which links Beaudesert Road to Mount Lindesay Highway via the Logan Motorway – it will open to the community in the coming days.
“This project is just one of a series of major southside highway upgrades people will see completed in the next couple of years to tackle congestion.
“The M1/M3 upgrade, works between Rocklea and Darra on the Ipswich Motorway and safety improvements on the Mount Lindesay Highway are all underway now as part of our record $23 billion, four year infrastructure investment for Queensland.”
State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister and Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick said the project, fully financed and delivered by Transurban Queensland, was a great example of the Palaszczuk Government working with industry to deliver benefits for the community.
“For too long Wembley Road roundabout and overpass were pinch points for the network in this area,” Mr Dick said.
“The improvements to access, travel times and safety has seen the area boom, with a major commercial and property developments being approved or delivered thanks to this project.
Transurban Queensland Group Executive Sue Johnson said the upgrade to the Logan and Gateway Extension motorways had made it the quicker, safer choice for motorists.
“Thanks to the project, motorists are getting 20 minutes back in their day by taking the Logan Motorway,” Ms Johnson said.
“With roadworks now complete, speed limits are back to 100km/hr – there’s never been a better time to take the Logan Motorway.”
A new 2km bike and pedestrian path has also been built as part of the project, which links Beaudesert Road to Mount Lindesay Highway via the Logan Motorway.
Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon said the increase in tolls had been accepted by the heavy vehicle industry in return for the time saving benefits the project would deliver.
“This upgrade is about reducing congestion and better access to industrial estates alongside the motorway,” Mr Mahon said.
“Those are the kind of benefits we want to see, because that helps our industry save on fuel costs, bring more certainty to trip times and supports more efficient freight movement.”
