Last week I spoke here on a much-needed infrastructure upgrade in my electorate, the dangerous Lindum Station Crossing intersection which I’m currently running a petition to fix. For years residents have called for a solution all while it’s been kicked around like a political football. Some people have asked why I’m bothering when fixes and funding have been promised many times before, all amounting to nothing.

There’s another major thoroughfare in my electorate that suffered from a lack of funding for years as well. Motorists were clamouring for a solution. Some local representatives put it in the too-hard basket, just as they have with the Lindum Crossing. They said it couldn’t be done. Well at the last election, I fought for and won Federal funding to go toward an upgrade of Green Camp Road between Manly Road and Rickertt Road at Wakerley.

This Federal commitment was matched by Brisbane City Council. Thanks to the efforts of Doboy Ward Councillor Ryan Murphy, Council also committed funding to upgrade the intersection of Green Camp and Tilley Road. Council then sought further Federal funding to upgrade the entire Green Camp Road Corridor. I was happy to help secure this funding, bringing the total Federal commitment to $10 million alongside Council’s $18 million investment.

Once complete, the corridor upgrade will improve safety for road users, improve the reliability of travel times, provide improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and help cater for existing and future traffic demands. Green Camp Road will be widened between Manly Road and Rickertt Road, helping ease congestion at peak times.

Council are now planning and carrying out the project. Over the last year Council has carried out geotechnical investigations and land resumptions. Council is now finalising the detailed design for the project, and has invited construction tenders so that a contractor can be appointed. It’s expected that the successful contractor will be announced in the new few months. Construction is on track to start after the Commonwealth Games in mid-2018, and be completed in mid-2019, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Local residents, businesses and the broader community will be kept updated with more information as the project progresses. I will be providing more details on road closures and construction impacts that can be expected during works once they’re available. Locals can call the BCC Community Hotline on 1800 884 681 for the latest on the upgrade.

I couldn’t possibly have delivered a massive undertaking like this project on my own. Thanks must go to Council—Lord Mayor Quirk, Councillors Adrian Schrinner and Ryan Murphy—as well as my Federal colleagues, Minister for Urban Infrastructure as well as the Member for Bowman. The Commonwealth and Council have come together to make this upgrade a reality. It’s only a matter of time before this happens for the Lindum crossing as well. This is my current priority and I intend to follow through once again for my constituents.

This month saw the release of plans for the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade at Wakerley. I’ve spoken many times here about this project. That’s because it’s such a huge win for my electorate.

Green Camp Road carries 30,000 vehicles every day: this part of the road network will no longer grind to a halt at peak times thanks to this vital project. The upcoming works to widen Green Camp Road to at least four lanes between Rickertt Road and Manly Road, as well as upgrade the Tilley Road and Rickertt Road intersections, will drastically improve peak hour commute times for thousands of my constituents.

Earlier this month I joined Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, and local councillors Adrian Schrinner and Ryan Murphy, to unveil details of the project. Brisbane City Council is investing $18 million to tackle traffic congestion along Green Camp Road.

Thanks to a further $10 million contribution from the Coalition Government, the scope of the project has been increased to also include capacity and safety upgrades at the Rickertt Road intersection.

Construction is expected to start in mid-2018 and be complete in late-2019. It will include:

• Two through-lanes in each direction on Green Camp Road from Manly Road to approximately 180 metres past the Rickertt Road intersection;

• Three through-lanes on the Green Camp Road northbound carriageway at the Tilley Road intersection;

• Signalisation at the Green Camp Road and Tilley Road intersection;

• Tilley Road intersection approach widened with one left-turn lane and one right-turn lane;

• Two through-lanes on Rickertt Road in each direction over a distance of 200 metres from the Green Camp Road intersection;

• Rickertt Road intersection approach widened with a separate left-turn lane and two right-turn lanes;

• New on-road cycling lanes and an off-road shared pathway; and

• Raising Green Camp Road and upgrading culverts to improve drainage and flood immunity.

The Green Camp Road corridor upgrade will reduce motorists’ commute times by up to 50 per cent in the mornings, and 35 per cent in the afternoons. It will cut down long peak hour queues on Rickertt Road and Tilley Road, and reduce congestion not only on Green Camp Road, but on arterial roads across the eastern road network.
More importantly, it will deliver safety improvements for thousands of commuters who travel through the area.

I applaud Brisbane City Council’s vision and commitment to deliver this infrastructure that will help meet the needs of future generations.

I also thank the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, the Hon Paul Fletcher, and Member for Bowman, Andrew Laming, for their work securing the Federal Government’s additional $10 million investment.

This upgrade wouldn’t have been possible without valuable feedback from the public. That’s why I’m encouraging my constituents to share their ideas for other vital upgrades in our area by filling out my online local infrastructure survey.

I appreciate their comments so far, which will help secure more important projects for Bonner.

A major upgrade to tackle traffic congestion along Green Camp Road at Wakerley is one step closer, with Council today releasing designs for the $28 million project.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the project would see Green Camp Road widened to at least four lanes to take real action on traffic congestion, getting residents home quicker and safer.

“The capacity of Green Camp Road, between Rickertt Road and Manly Road, will be boosted with extra lanes, as well as major intersection upgrades for Tilley Road and Rickertt Road,” Cr Quirk said.

“This project is part of Council’s plan to keep Brisbane heading in the right direction, by delivering the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of future generations.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the Rickertt Road and Tilley Road intersections were currently operating well above capacity and failing to meet current traffic demands.

“With Green Camp Road already carrying 30,000 vehicles each day, this part of the road network will grind to a halt without this vital project,” Mr Vasta said.

“Thanks to the Federal Government’s investment, the scope of this project has been increased to also include capacity and safety upgrades at the Rickertt Road intersection.”

Deputy Mayor and Chandler Ward Councillor Adrian Schrinner said the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade would deliver valuable travel time savings and safety improvements.

“The upgrade will reduce motorists’ commute by up to 50 per cent in the mornings, and 35 per cent in the afternoons, by widening Green Camp Road to four lanes with an additional northbound lane at the Tilley Road intersection,” Cr Schrinner said.

Councillor for Doboy Ward Ryan Murphy said the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade would reduce traffic congestion not only on Green Camp Road, but on arterial roads across the eastern road network.

“Traffic modelling has shown that upgrades of these intersections will reduce long queues on both Rickertt Road and Tilley Road, particularly during the busy morning peak,” Cr Murphy said.

Construction on the Green Camp Road Corridor upgrade is expected to commence in mid-2018 and be complete in late-2019.

The Green Camp Road corridor upgrade is jointly funded by Brisbane City Council and the Australian Government. The Australian Government is contributing $10 million through the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

For more information on the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.

Green Camp Road Project Details:

• Two through-lanes in each direction on Green Camp Road from Manly Road to approximately 180 metres past the Rickertt Road intersection.

• Three through-lanes on the Green Camp Road northbound carriageway at the Tilley Road intersection.

• Signalisation at the Green Camp Road and Tilley Road intersection.

• Tilley Road intersection approach widened with one left-turn lane and one right-turn lane.

• Two through-lanes on Rickertt Road in each direction over a distance of 200 metres from the Green Camp Road intersection.

• Rickertt Road intersection approach widened with a separate left-turn lane and two right-turn lanes.

• New on-road cycling lanes and off-road shared pathway.

• Raising Green Camp Road and upgrading culverts to improve drainage and flood immunity.

I would love your help to deliver more vital upgrades for our area and would appreciate if you could fill out my local infrastructure survey 

A re-elected Turnbull Government will provide funding for the upgrade of the intersection of Rickertt Road and Green Camp Road, relieving congestion for motorists in the electorate of Bonner and Bowman.

The intersection, which is a key route for commuters between Redland City and Brisbane, is currently plagued by congestion during peak times. Around 1,000 vehicles per hour pass through the intersection during peak times, resulting in traffic queues of up to two kilometres.  

The Turnbull Government will provide $5 million for the upgrade which will be matched by the Brisbane City Council.  

The funding will enable the re-phasing of traffic signals as well as the upgrade and extension of the dual carriageway.

The announcement was made today by Minister for Major Projects, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP, and Member for Bowman, Andrew Laming MP. 

Mr Vasta said, “I’ve heard from countless residents and commuters in Bonner who’ve had issues with this particular intersection. After fighting for years on their behalf for this much-needed upgrade I’m pleased the Government is now able to commit this funding.”

Mr Laming said, “This upgrade transforms the commute between Redland City and Brisbane. The morning congestion in particular has caused frustration for around 15,000 Redland city families.”

The Turnbull Government is investing $13.7 billion in Queensland infrastructure and is spending a record $50 billion on land transport infrastructure nationally as part of our carefully structured economic plan to provide jobs and growth and a secure future for Australian families.