Port of Brisbane is set to receive a $110 million upgrade to its port drive to provide safer access to the port.
The Port Drive Upgrade project involves:
- Duplicating Port Drive, including the concrete separation barrier for the full length of the road for additional safety
- Constructing a four-lane overpass over the Port Drive/Kite Street intersection
- Improvements to the Tanker Street/Osprey Drive road networks
- Duplicating the Lucinda Drive Bridge on Fisherman Islands.
Seymour Whyte Constructions has been announced as the successful Design Development and Construct Contractor for the project.
QLD Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports, Mark Bailey, and Member for Lytton, Joan Pease, joined Port of Brisbane CEO Roy Cummins to announce the upgrades.
“The Port of Brisbane handles more than $50 billion in trade annually and these road upgrades are vital to meeting the Port of Brisbane’s future growth, providing income and jobs for many Queenslanders,” Mr Bailey said.
“Each year, more than 3.1 million vehicles access the port and this project will improve safety especially for the large number of workers travelling here every day.
“The project will also support almost 390 jobs during its two-year construction and is essential to maintaining the Port’s competitiveness and productivity.”
Mr Cummins said the $110 million Port Drive upgrade project was essential to ensuring the Port of Brisbane remains a world-class facility well into the future.
“Port of Brisbane takes a long-term view to infrastructure planning and safety, which is why we are bringing forward this significant investment ahead of capacity demand. This will deliver safer port roads for all users,” Mr Cummins said.
“The Port Drive Upgrade is a necessary and early step in ensuring the Port continues to play its role in supporting Queensland’s trade growth and delivering supply chain efficiencies for decades to come.”
Member for Lytton Joan Pease said the design would incorporate a segregated cycle path from Pritchard Street to Port Gate.
“A new segregated cycle path will provide a safer outcome for cyclists and increase the cycle network across South East Queensland,” Ms Pease said.
“This upgrade is great news for the local community – it will provide a safer road, better active infrastructure and support jobs.”
The Port of Brisbane has worked closely with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to achieve a seamless connection to the state network via this section of Port Drive.
Early works are expected to begin in July 2016, with construction anticipated to be complete in May 2018.
