Urgent call to address SEQ transport hurdles

On weekdays last year, average morning rush hour speeds were slower on 65 out of 98 road sections (66%) across Brisbane compared to 2019, while 67 (68%) saw slower afternoon peak speeds.

Motorists heading outbound on Gympie Road (Kedron Park to Albany Creek Roads) crawled at an average of 24.8km/h during weekday afternoon peaks in 2024, more than 18km/h slower than free-flowing conditions.

Morning peak hour congestion added almost seven minutes (6:46) to the drive from Ipswich Motorway to Fig Tree Pocket Road on the Centenary Motorway in 2024, averaging just 35.9km/h. That equates to motorists spending more than 28 hours extra in traffic over a working year^.

To combat our region’s growing pains, RACQ’s Head of Public Policy Dr Michael Kane is calling for a long-term SEQ transport plan to achieve two key objectives; improve our public and active transport networks and upgrade and complete Brisbane’s outer ring of motorways.

“Our research shows that many Queenslanders are looking forward to the 2032 Games, but many more will follow if they can see tangible legacy benefits, particularly improved transport infrastructure to cater for a growing population,” Dr Kane said.

“Gympie Road congestion data raises the need for urgent planning and solutions that could include the expansion of Brisbane Metro services north to Carseldine.

“We also need to expand Metro services south to Loganholme and east to Capalaba and consider using smaller electric ‘Metro Glider’ bus services on other key transport spines running into central Brisbane.

“There must be certainty over the future of public transport connections to the Brisbane Airport precinct as well.

“These public transport investments should be complemented by cycling path expansions to give commuters more options to leave their car at home.”

Dr Kane said there were pending upgrades and missing links in our outer ring of motorways which currently consisted of the Gateway, Logan and Centenary Motorways.

“We have the semblance of a giant ring road around Brisbane but there are critical gaps which will continue to unnecessarily funnel too much traffic into and near the CBD. This is putting great stress on congestion, hampering productivity and SEQ’s enviable lifestyle,” he said.

“Governments must seriously consider delivering a Centenary Motorway upgrade from the Ipswich Motorway to Legacy Way (Toowong) and planning a new north-west corridor linking the Centenary Motorway with the Bruce Highway to keep through-traffic off our local roads.

“There has also been $1 billion set aside for Gateway North Motorway upgrades since 2019, where motorists last year faced an average delay of three and a half minutes during the afternoon peak while traveling from Deagon Deviation to Pine Rivers Bridge.

“We need to get on with that work, including the proposed Bruce Highway upgrades from Pine Rivers Bridge to Anzac Avenue.”

RACQ will continue to engage with all levels of government to advocate for better transport planning that aims to leave a lasting legacy for Queensland long after the Games conclude.

For more, read RACQ’s full 2024 Average Travel Speed and Time report.

*RACQ’s 2024 Average Travel Speed and Time report analysed data collected from Transport and Main Roads. ^Based on 250 working days annually.