- Q Will Airport Link be electronically tolled?
- A Yes, BrisConnections will have an innovative free-flow tolling design which will run for 41 years (following the four year construction phase). Airport Link tags will be fully interoperable with other Australian toll roads.
- Q Who is BrisConnections?
- A
On 19 May 2008, after an extensive bidding process, the State Government announced BrisConnections as the preferred bidder for the projects.
BrisConnections comprises Macquarie Capital Group, Thiess and John Holland.Under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) BrisConnections will finance, design, construct, commission, operate and maintain Airport Link for a period of 45 years.
The contractor will also design and build the Windsor to Kedron section of the State-funded Northern Busway and the Airport Flyover, before handing them back to the State to operate and maintain. The contract between the State Government and BrisConnections was signed on 2 June 2008.
On 30 July 2008 financial close was achieved enabling the Airport Link and Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) projects to enter the pre-construction phase. On this day, the Coordinator-General issued his final approval for Airport Link with the release of his Change Report.
- Q What will the toll levels be?
- A
In 2012, the trip between Bowen Hills and Toombul (to the airport) is expected to cost $4.85*.
Tolls will be increased in line with the Consumer Price Index (Brisbane) and an estimate of what they may be in 2012 is around (*based on an assumed 3% CPI rate):
* $4.85 from between Bowen Hills and Kedron, $4.85 for trip between Bowen Hills and Toombul and $3.65 for a trip between Kedron and Toombul.
Further information on the toll levels is available on http://www.airportlinkm7.com.au/tolls.aspx
- Q What are the travel time savings?
- A
Airport Link is expected to provide up to a 50% reduction in peak period 2012 travel times. Airport Link will add six lanes of new roadway under Lutwyche Road and four extra lanes between Kedron and Toombul.
It will also provide two additional entrance and exit points for traffic at Kedron and Toombul.With Airport Link in place in 2012 it is expected that nearly 40,000 fewer cars will be using Lutwyche Road on each weekday (south of Newmarket Road) than there would have been in the tunnel had not been built. Drivers will avoid up to 18 sets of traffic lights.
- Q Will there be a toll free period?
- A BrisConnections must offer a one month toll-free and other user incentives such as toll credits as part of its toll road opening arrangements.
- Q Will I be forced to use Airport Link and pay a toll?
- A No. All existing free routes will remain. If you enter the Airport Link tunnel system, you will be required to pay a toll.
