The Gillard and Bligh Labor governments today announced a new multi-million dollar Gateway northbound lane will be built to ease congestion and slash travel times for busy motorists.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said two lanes would be widened to three on the northbound lane between Sandgate Road and the Deagon Deviation.

“We’re targeting this area because during the afternoon peak hours traffic all the way back to Nudgee is affected, with the new 2.5 kilometre lane set to slash travel times and double the peak hour speeds at this spot,” said Mr Albanese.

“But this new lane is just one part the Gillard Labor Government’s determined efforts to making it easier to get around Australia’s fast growing and third largest city.

“Indeed we’re investing $3.8 billion over six years to modernise and expand South East Queensland’s road and rail infrastructure - significantly more than what the former government spent in the entire State over a similar period of time.”

Each day, this section of road is used by about 65,000 vehicles, with numbers peaking during the afternoon commute, causing delays for motorists.

Mr Wallace said the federal funding commitment would make this high priority project a reality.

“Main Roads is now getting on with the task of fast-tracking this project. Planning will be completed by the end of the year with construction of the new lane expected to be finished in 2013,” he said.

“By mid next year we will also have the preliminary designs for further upgrades of the northern Gateway and will present these to the community for comment,” Mr Wallace said.

The additional lane together with reconstructed motorway bridges at Cabbage Tree Creek, a widened Depot Road overpass and new off-ramp bridge are the first outcomes of investigations to upgrade the northern section of motorway.