All four lanes of Brisbane’s airport flyover opened this morning, nine months ahead of schedule
February 28, 2011
Getting out of the Brisbane airport precinct was made a little easier this morning with the opening of all four lanes of the airport flyover, marking the completion of the Queensland Government’s $327 million Airport Roundabout Upgrade project.
Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser says drivers were on the west-bound road well ahead of schedule.
The flyover alleviates traffic congestion at the infamous Brisbane airport roundabout that stymied access to the international and domestic terminals for several years.
“Every year 17 million vehicles use this intersection,” Fraser says.
“What used to be one of Brisbane’s worst traffic bottlenecks has been ripped up, demolished and replaced by the new flyover and fast diamond intersection, which I’m pleased to say is now officially open.
“The airport bound lanes were opened a year ahead of schedule and this morning the westbound lanes took their first cars nine months early,” says Fraser.
The project was designed and constructed by Thiess John Holland, along with the Airport Link and Windsor to Kedron Northern Busway – all part of a $4.8 billion infrastructure investment on Brisbane’s north side.
Fraser says the combined Airport Link projects are the biggest infrastructure construction underway in Australia.
The Airport Link and Northern Busway are on schedule for completion by mid-2012.
BrisConnections CEO Dr Ray Wilson says when the Airport Link project is completed in 2012, access to Brisbane airport for motorists would be better than any other airport in Australia.
The project involved:
– A new four lane 750m bridge linking East West Arterial Road and Airport Drive over the Gateway Motorway overpass;
– Replacing the existing Gateway Motorway overpass at the roundabout with a new four lane overpass;
– Replacing the existing roundabout with a high capacity signalised intersection