THE knock-on effects of the Mount Crosby Road overpass accident have prompted Division 4 Councillor Jim Madden to draft an emergency motion calling on the Transport Minister to accelerate road works at local traffic trouble spots.
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee member, Cr Madden’s motion requests for Ipswich City Council CEO Sonia Cooper to write to Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg to demand the Queensland Government fast-track infrastructure upgrades for the Karalee Interchange and the Bremer River Bridge.
“Funding has been approved from both state and federal government for the bridge, which is about $90 million so we have a situation, we have two projects, where there’s funding available … but no indication of when either project will actually begin, or when will we receive the final design for the new Karalee Interchange,” Cr Madden said.
“I am moving a motion for some urgency from the State Government and the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to get both these projects going.”
The Queensland Government last year gave $42.5 million towards works on the Bremer Bridge with matched funding from the Australian Government and bringing the total funding amount to $85 million for re-decking and the removal of long-term speed limit reductions of 70km/h on the eastbound carriageway.
The Federal Government announced $134.5 million in funding for the delivery of upgrades at the Mt Crosby Road Interchange, including the building of a new two-lane bridge, the extension of existing ramps and for the delivery of new shared paths.
The State Government also committed $137.5 million to the project and the government indicated last year that major construction would already be underway.
A detailed plan for the Mount Crosby Road Interchange was due to be released by TMR by the end of 2024, but Ipswich is still to see those details.
Cr Madden’s motion will be presented for approval at the council meeting this week.
Meanwhile, residents are becoming increasingly exasperated at the local traffic situation.
“Traffic is horrendous from the Karalee side,” one local posted on social media last week.
“Waiting on my daughter’s school bus that usually arrives by 7.50am, it’s now 9.26am … I feel for the drivers.”
Another resident wrote: “It has taken 2.5 hours for kids on buses to get to school in Ipswich today … a trip that usually takes one hour. How long will this go on for?”
Additionally, one wrote: “With the accident and bridge out, it took 1.5 hours to get to St Andrew’s Hospital for an appointment this morning from Chuwar … a trip google says is 12km.”
A TMR spokesman told the Tribune on Monday: “Design continues for rehabilitation works on the Bremer River Bridge.
“TMR is currently exploring opportunities to minimise construction and traffic impacts during the works for the Bremer River Bridge.
“In 2024, the Mount Crosby Road Interchange upgrade on the Warrego Highway commenced design activities. A significant part of this process is the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) assessment.
“When the assessment is complete it will be submitted for review and community feedback.
“Timescales are dependent on the completion of this statutory process.”
