Brisbane’s newest road to bust airport congestion
02/12/2009
Australia’s largest privately funded toll-free road is expected to dramatically reduce traffic congestion, with Queensland Premier Anna Bligh officially opening Brisbane Airport’s new Northern Access Road today.
The new road is a massive boost in capacity for Brisbane Airport’s road network, generating huge savings in time, congestion, fuel use, and emissions for the tens of thousands of vehicles using the Airport’s roads every day.
From 3 December, vehicles will travel along the four and a half kilometre, multi-lane road, which has been fully funded by Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) as part of BAC’s ambitious $4.2 billion infrastructure program.
The new road, named Moreton Drive, links the Gateway Motorway with the Domestic Terminal in a seamless, uninterrupted flow, while Nancy-Bird Way services the International Terminal. The road network provides airport users and businesses with a second major access route to terminals and on-airport businesses, delivering huge benefits to the entire Australia TradeCoast region – one of the fastest growing employment and investment locations in Australia.
Moreton Drive will connect with a major component of the Gateway Upgrade Project, the New Gateway Motorway, which runs from the Gateway Bridge through Brisbane Airport land before rejoining the Old Gateway Motorway at Nudgee Road.
BAC CEO and Managing Director, Ms Julieanne Alroe said Moreton Drive, which would be the only road to connect to the New Gateway Motorway, would provide much needed relief from heavily congested accesses to the airport. She said around 40% percent of vehicles currently travelling on Airport Drive will be moved onto Moreton Drive, which represented a major relief to the notorious Airport Drive-Gateway Motorway Roundabout.
“Following the opening of the State Government’s Gateway Upgrade Project earlier this year, the opening of Moreton Drive is yet another step towards alleviating traffic congestion issues on the road network around Brisbane Airport – once and for all,” Ms Alroe said.
“This is a major benefit to airlines and their passengers, but also to the many hundreds of businesses that rely on efficient Airport access and egress. It is also, notably, a major benefit to the sustainability of Brisbane Airport resulting from more efficient traffic flows, less fuel consumption and emissions,” Ms Alroe said.
“Further relief for motorists will come with the completion of the State Government’s Airport Link, Airport Roundabout Upgrade Projects and the completion of the Gateway Upgrade Project in 2011, providing airport users with faster, more convenient access to the precinct. In fact, Brisbane Airport will be the envy of all Australian airports when the final pieces of the puzzle are put in place, with a highly-efficient road network linking the city, the airport and the two Coasts.
“The extensive upgrade of the road network around Brisbane Airport has been a remarkable joint effort between BAC, the Australian Government, the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council. I would personally like to thank each organisation for their support of the Northern Access Road Project, and the beneficial collaboration between all parties that has helped to coordinate this project with others in the surrounding area.”
Airport Drive will continue to act as the principal carrier of traffic for vehicles travelling to or from the city, while Moreton Drive will be the primary airport access for those travelling in a north-south direction along the New Gateway Motorway.
“With more than 60 kilometres of road within the 2,700 hectare airport precinct, BAC is now responsible for one of Australia’s most extensive private road networks – a network which is built and maintained without a cent of taxpayers’ money,” Ms Alroe said.
Car Park Changes
Entries to the existing Domestic Terminal undercover, multi-level PARKLONG car park (formerly long-term parking - best for 4 hours+) and the existing open-air PARKSHORT (formerly known as short-term parking - best for up to 4 hours) car park will also change. A new open-air PARKSHORT car park at the Domestic Terminal will also become available from December 3, and will be the best option for Jetstar and Virgin Blue guests.
The NARP is a key element of BAC’s $4.2 billion public infrastructure program, currently being delivered, which also includes the New Parallel Runway Project, International Terminal Expansion Project and other related infrastructure upgrades. This infrastructure program will provide extra capacity, ensuring Brisbane Airport is prepared for future passenger and industry growth.
Moreton Drive has been selected as the name for what was known as the Northern Access Road in deference to the airport’s position beside Moreton Bay.
Nancy-Bird Way has been selected for the link from Moreton Drive to the International Terminal in recognition of the extraordinary contribution that Nancy Bird-Walton OBE made to aviation in Australia and made more relevant by its role as a road link to the Kingsford Smith Memorial. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith was one of Nancy-Bird’s early mentors.
For more information about the new Brisbane Airport road network, visit www.brisbaneairport.com.au or phone 1300 732 240.
-ENDS-
Further Information:
Jim Carden, 0413 120 341
Rebecca McConochie, 0434 160 238
