THE first sod of soil has been turned on a project that will upgrade several motorways and roads around Brisbane’s south and Logan.
State treasurer Curtis Pitt was on hand on Tuesday morning to mark the beginning of the $512 million Logan Enhancement Project, which will include upgrades to the Beaudesert Rd-Logan Motorway intersection, the Logan Motorway-Wembley Rd interchange and the Gateway Motorway-Logan Motorway interchange.
The most noticeable aspect of the project, which will be funded by an increase in tolls to trucks, will be the replacement of an uncontrolled right turn from Beaudesert Rd to the Logan Motorway with a free-flowing underpass. The existing Mount Lindesay highway northbound to Logan Motorway eastbound cloverleaf ramp will also be replaced with a free-flowing connecting ramp.
Wembley Rd will also be upgraded under the project, with the Logan Motorway eastbound and westbound on and off ramps to be relocated, Wembley Rd to be widened to two lanes in each direction between Pagewood St and Greenfern Dr, and replacing the Wembley Rd-Illaweena St roundabout with a signalised intersection.
Other key features of the project will also include extending the third lane along the Mount Lindesay Highway southbound down to the Browns Plains Road off-ramp, widening the Logan Motorway between the Gateway Extension Motorway and Mount Lindesay Highway interchanges and widening the Gateway Extension Motorway from four lanes to six lanes between Compton Rd and the Logan Motorway.
Mr Pitt said the project was due for completion in mid 2019.
“This sod turning today represents the start of about two years worth of work, which will be done in three construction phases,” Mr Pitt said.
“Over that time, we ask for people to be patient. Wherever possible, work will be done at night time and on weekends when there are lower traffic volumes.”
Logan Mayor Luke Smith said the project would bring more jobs to Logan as well as providing benefits for motorists.
“This is the largest infrastructure spend that the city of Logan has seen in decades, so we’re very excited that $512 million will be spent unlocking the Wembley Rd interchange,” Cr Smith said.
“What that means for Berrinba, is not just a reduction in congestion, but also means 2000 jobs.
“This area where we are right now is a key logistics area for southeast Queensland, and we’re very excited to see this project unlock the potential to create more jobs into the future.”
Source: Michael Cormack, Quest Newspapers