Connector, new bridge, comments on $2b highway upgrade

It will be 2024 before construction starts on the $2 billion Gateway Motorway/Bruce Highway Upgrades (GMBHU) – but major deadlines are much closer.

Such is the size and complexity of this huge project, three business cases are currently being prepared. 

A spokesperson for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) said the first, from Dohles Rocks Rd to Anzac Ave, is due “late 2022/early 2023”.

The second (from the Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Rd) and third (Bracken Ridge to the Pine River) are due “late 2023”.

Within those business cases are plans, projections and questions which will impact residents and road users across the Moreton Bay Region.

Dohles Rocks Rd to Anzac Ave

About 80 properties on both sides of the highway in Griffin and Murrumba Downs will be impacted. The TMR spokesperson said this part of the project is not funded and therefore no timing is confirmed.

TMR plans to continue with protected planning in early 2023 – “subject to the outcomes of consultation and any design refinement”.

Once protected planning is in place, property owners can apply for early acquisition, if they wish.

Formal resumptions will not happen until funding is committed and the project is close to delivery. Timing has not been confirmed for these stages.

But, the resumption of properties for new north-facing highway ramps from Dohles Rocks Rd to Anzac Ave is expected to start earlier, before construction in 2024.

Brays Rd Bridge

Brays Rd bridge, across the highway, will be replaced with a new, two-lane overpass as part of provisions for future Bruce Highway collector-distributer roads.

The TMR spokesperson said a new overpass would be built immediately south of the existing Brays Rd bridge to keep traffic flowing during construction work.

The new bridge will “tie into Brays Rd with connections to Twin Lakes Dr and Cairns Rd”.

Moreton Connector

The subject of a heated response from Moreton Bay Regional Council when details of the $2 billion plans emerged, it appears the Moreton Connector maybe be parked to one side, rather than scrapped.

A TMR spokesperson said the Connector “is still supported by the Queensland Government for future use”.

“Planning has identified, while the Moreton Connector would provide a beneficial arterial road for local traffic, it is does not give the benefits required for Bruce Highway traffic,” the spokesperson said.

“Planning has recommended the Moreton Connector is not part of the GMBHU project but preserved for a potential use as a local arterial road.”

Deagon Deviation and Gateway Motorway

About 40 property owners will be affected by this stage of the upgrades. How much land is acquired will depend on the final business case.

The formal resumption process is expected to start late 2023. But, TMR says, some property owners may apply for early acquisition, if they wish.

Gympie Arterial Rd

Current planning has identified a need to upgrade Gympie Arterial Rd to three lanes in each direction (Strathpine Rd to Gateway Motorway).

Residents' reaction

Comments posted on the TMR project website suggest a degree of support for main elements of the $2.1 billion GMBHU project, but there are local concerns as well.

One of those commenting, called Cornerstone, said: “I support the Gateway priority option for the Gateway/Bruce/Gympie Rd interchange. More traffic will use the Gateway here, particularly once the Bracken Ridge Curve is improved and widened, so that should be given priority over Gympie Rd.”

Windsock wrote: “I believe that priority should be given to Gympie Rd traffic. There is currently a frequent bottleneck from Bald Hills through the existing gateway overpass that could be improved.”

'Must be built'

Annig believes the Moreton Connector is a "vital piece of infrastructure that must be built. It will remove traffic from Anzac Ave and ease the congestion in that area. Why has this been shelved? Makes no sense. It was planned since the inception of North Lakes".

Surfie007 said: “These distributor roads replacing the southern Dohles Rocks Rd ramps will definitely solve the weaving issue that causes traffic and safety issues.”

Chrisewaters added: “Noise barrier essential to protect residents from noise pollution and also potentially high speed accidents. Noise barrier could be used in between road and bike bath.”

Nickgriffin commented: “Nature reserve to be added with trees and local flora between the noise barrier and residential homes.”