CNI is proud to have delivered world-class infrastructure for Queensland.

We have celebrated the completion and opening of the Airport Link and Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron), seen the Airport Flyover become part of the Brisbane landscape and welcomed the end of major construction.

 

Brisbane’s road network has changed forever; the opening of Australia’s largest road infrastructure project Airport Link, in conjunction with the operation of the Northern Busway, is seeing faster, more predictable travel times and greater connectivity across the network.

Never before have residents been given so much choice- to take a quick trip through Airport Link’s tunnel network, to jump on a fast and frequent bus service or to stick to using the existing surface network.

Since 2006 CNI has overseen all three elements of Airport Link’s complex and innovative approach to infrastructure delivery. Since the symbolic ground breaking ceremony was held in November 2008 on what is now part of Lutwyche Road at Kedron, construction of the Airport Link toll road, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and the Airport Roundabout Upgrade (ARU) has been underway on a massive scale.

In that time, more than 28 million hours have been worked and innovative engineering, design and financial solutions have been found to ensure that the quality and intent of these projects were fully realised.

When Airport Link Project was identified as vital by both the State Government (South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program) and Brisbane City Council (TransApex), the primary objective was to provide an alternative high-speed route to the CBD bypass network or beyond, for airport and northern suburbs traffic using the East West Arterial, Sandgate, Gympie and Lutwyche Roads.

During the EIS phase, the Airport Link project team received input from more than 1,500 people. Much of this feedback came from residents and business people from within the study area via community information sessions, staffed library displays, feedback forms, the 1800 information phone line, emails and stakeholder group meetings.

During the bid phase, the bidders undertook extensive redesign work based on community input and developed an arguably superior final project, in comparison to the reference design. Improvements included putting more of the toll road and its ramps underground and the design of the VSO’s, burying two of them to allow the creation of new parks, high quality urban mitigation and design finishes were also developed. BrisConnections’ winning bid included a change of construction methodology that minimised the impacts on the local schools and provided, overall, a much better outcome for local stakeholders, with 30% more of the infrastructure going underground.

Now operational Airport Link is delivering on the key benefits that were identified in the early phase of project, including:

• Providing a vital link between Brisbane's CBD, airport and Australia Trade Coast precinct
• Avoiding up to 18 sets of lights between Bowen Hills and the Airport
• Significantly reducing peak hour traffic on busy Sandgate Road by up to 24% and Lutwyche Road by up to 40% in 2012 (The latest figures released publicly by DTMR show that traffic on Sandgate Road at Clayfield has been reduced by 29 per cent, to 8000 vehicles a day, since the AirportlinkM7’s opening).
• Reduced congestion on Kingsford Smith Drive by up to 11% upon opening in July 2012
• Reducing traffic, heavy vehicles and noise on suburban streets (10% of the vehicles in the tunnel being classified as Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in July/August 2012)
• Urban regeneration in Kedron, Windsor and Toombul
• Enhanced pedestrian and cycle links throughout the corridor.

In Bowen Hills a landbridge over the Airport Link tunnel infrastructure creates a new hilltop park with city views. There are new cycle/pedestrian paths through the area to help people wanting to use the local parks and the new viewing platform over the local creek. The design radically improves connections to and from the city for cyclists and walkers.

Along Kedron Brook widened pathways and pedestrian bridges link the new Busway Stations at Lutwyche and Kedron. Kedron Brook’s banks have also been revitalized and connect to the redeveloped Amelia Park. 

 At Kalinga Park, Toombul, nearly two hectares of additional parkland and 2.5 kilometres of new pathway have been built.  A new landbridge and paths have been installed to connect residents from Alma and Stucky Roads and Elliot Street to the newly transformed, Kalinga Park. 


Join us on the journey from idea to reality - please click on the link for a slideshow.