The long awaited upgrade of one of Brisbane’s busiest intersections – Mains and Kessels – is now underway, with major construction activities set to ramp up early in the New Year.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese was today onsite for the ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of work on this $300 million, fully-Federally funded project.
“After four years of detailed planning, extensive community consultations and preconstruction activities, we have today pressed the start button on a project which is all about keeping Brisbane moving,” said Mr Albanese.
“In addition, we’ve agreed to bring forward $100 million in Federal funding to make sure the work that’s now underway can be completed as a matter of urgency.
“Importantly, this is just one of many Federally-funded projects being rolled out across Australia’s fastest growing region. All up, the Gillard Labor Government is investing $5.7 billion to modernise and expand South East Queensland’s road and rail infrastructure.
“Not only is that figure unprecedented, it’s more than what the former government spent across the entire State of Queensland over a similar period of time.”
On a typical weekday, more than 90,000 cars and trucks pass through the Mains and Kessels intersection – a figure which is only likely to grow in the years ahead given the Ipswich, Pacific and Gateway motorways all feed into it.
Queensland Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the builder – Baulderstone (Queensland) – has the expertise and the skilled workforce necessary to deliver the project, which from an engineering perspective will be an extremely complex undertaking.
“Importantly, thanks to the extensive planning that’s been undertaken, we’re confident the end product will be a new piece of infrastructure able to cater for the growth in traffic volumes, not just for the next two years but for the next two decades,” said Mr Wallace.
“Once the upgrade is completed in 2014, the intersection will look very different to what it does now. The project will provide a short underpass beneath Mains Road for Kessels Road traffic, with improved turn and intersection lanes.”
For more information call 1800 227 804 or email
mainskessels@tmr.qld.gov.au.