Modified Hale Street Bridge to slow traffic in South Brisbane
06 June, 2008
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A Traffic Report for the modified Hale Street Link project design predicts worsening traffic flows in South Brisbane, said local Councillor Helen Abrahams.
“The traffic modelling report focused on Cordelia Street in identifying changes in traffic movements south of the river and concluded, ‘Travel times in Cordelia Street morning and evening peak were significantly increased due to a number of issues’,” Councillor Abrahams said.
“The Lord Mayor failed to mention traffic congestion increases when he brought the new design to Council.
“I find this new information concerning and am I certain local residents will too,” she said.
“Travel times will be three times longer in morning peak hour and five times longer in the afternoon peak hour than the travel times predicted by the original Bridge design.
“These delays will result in rat running through parallel streets in South Brisbane, particularly Browning Street and Edmondstone Street – which was identified as a ‘black spot’ last week.
“Local residents predicted this rat running when opposing the Bridge and this report shows they were right.
Councillor Abrahams said the worsening of traffic flows in South Brisbane must be taken into account when considering the Cost Benefit for the new Bridge.
“The cost benefit for the original design was marginal and I doubt the new design will show a positive cost benefit,” she said.
“The removal of free turn movements on the north side of the river and the increased travel times on the south side of the river means the reduced traffic benefits.
“The cost of the bridge has risen from $120 million to a predicted $370 million. This means a potential budget blow-out of $250 million but the project design will not do anything to ease traffic congestion,” Councillor Abrahams said.
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