Early works are underway this week for the $176 million Linkfield Road Overpass upgrade at Bald Hills in Brisbane’s outer north.
The state government says the long-awaited project will help to reduce congestion, improve safety and freight access, and boost opportunities for “active transport” use.
When completed, the overpass clearance height will be increased from 4.7 to 6 metres and Linkfield Road will be upgraded to four lanes between the Gympie Road and Lacey Road intersections.
The busy overpass at Bald Hills has been the site of a number of truck strikes over recent years.
Planning of the project began with service providers and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads after the state government announced the release of initial funding to support the start of onsite activities in May.
The Australian Government has committed $125.5 million to the jointly-funded project, with the Queensland Government contributing $50.5 million.
“This is part our government’s investment of more than $10 billion in safety and capacity improvements for the Bruce Highway,” said federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King.
“I look forward to major works beginning onsite and to delivering this upgrade, which will reduce congestion and improve safety and freight access.”
In 2018 under the previous federal government, Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howard said he secured $100 million of a projected $125 million for the same project Bruce Highway/Linkfied Road overpass project, with the Queensland government kicking in the rest.
He said the state government was committing to upgrade Linkfield Rd Overpass “six years too late” and the cost had now increased by more than $50 million.
“Given the delay already experienced under these Labor Governments, we know that the Linkfield Rd Overpass won’t be constructed in a reasonable timeframe,” Howarth said.
“The government’s partisan inaction six years ago to deliver this project for the people that they represent has resulted in cost and safety blow outs.”