Australia’s largest infrastructure project, the Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade.

The three projects were constructed together for efficiency and better value for the State. The Airport Roundabout Upgrade's Airport Flyover has been operational since February 2011, while Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) opened to commuters in June 2012, followed by the Airport Link in July 2012.

Across the three projects:

• $4.85 billion spent
• More than 28.5 million hours worked
• Over 4,500 people employed on the project at its peak
• More than 30,000 people inducted on the project
• Bored and lined 15 kilometres of tunnel and ramps
• 2 of Australia’s largest Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs)
• 17 roadheaders
• 13 kilometres of new and upgraded cycle and pathways
• More than 3 hectares of new parkland

Under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) BrisConnections financed, designed, constructed and commissioned the Airport Link. BrisConnections is now operating and maintaining the Airport Link for a period of 42 years.

BrisConnections also designed and constructed the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and the Airport Roundabout Upgrade, before handing both back to the State upon completion.

BrisConnections advise the design and construction costs for the three projects is $4.8 billion.

BrisConnections contracted Thiess John Holland, a joint venture between Thiess Pty Ltd and John Holland Group, to undertake the design and construction of Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade.

Combined, the Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade represent the largest and most complex road infrastructure project currently being undertaken in Australia.

Given the significance of this vital project, a range of delivery options were considered as well as various project governance models. The CNI model was chosen as the company can be responsible for all of the activities, costs, risks and liabilities associated with the project with one transparent and accountable entity.

The role of the Coordinator-General was established under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWOA). The Act provides the Coordinator-General with wide ranging powers to promote economic and social development and job opportunities through coordinating and implementing large scale projects and developments (see the website of the Coordinator-General for more information). 

On the Airport Link project, the office of the Coordinator-General monitors the project’s compliance with the Coordinator-General’s conditions. The conditions are outlined in the following reports:

• Coordinator-General’s Change Report July 2008— Airport Link
• Coordinator-General’s Change Report on the Airport Link Project, July 2008 – Appendix 1
  
• Coordinator-General’s Change Report Airport Link Project – Wooloowin Worksite Modification – October 2009
  

The Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) as with all other Busways in Brisbane, was established under the Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP). This plan is a highly detailed document used to assess a range of environmental, social and economic issues related to busway and transit infrastructure. In addition to the CDIMP, the contract between the State and the company constructing the Busway, requires that Thiess John Holland comply with the planning conditions set for Airport Link (for example levels on dust, noise and traffic management are all the same).

As with all other infrastructure projects, regulatory agencies including Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), Department of Transport and Main Roads, Workplace Health and Safety and Brisbane City Council have their usual jurisdiction over construction activities on the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron).

CNI is the State’s representative on the Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade projects. CNI represented the State’s interests in the projects and liaises closely with the project team on the full range of aspects of project delivery.

As part of its role, CNI monitored the project’s compliance with the Coordinator-General’s conditions and tests BrisConnections/ Thiess John Holland's activities and proposed activities against the conditions and the Project Deed. As part of this work, CNI reviewed all  notifications and materials prior to their distribution to the community. CNI also monitored project works by conducting ad-hoc independent environmental monitoring, considers possible breaches of conditions, conducted inquiries into the project’s complaint management and regular site visits.

After CNI assuming project responsibility in December 2006, the company kept the community up to date with the progress of the projects via:

• Project Info Line (1800 990 038, freecall)
• CNI info email (mailto:info@cni.qld.gov.au)
• Community open days
• Ad-hoc newsletters
• CNI also attended the project’s Community Liaison Group (CLG) meetings during construction and meets regularly with individual residents and businesses.
  

An Annual Report was tabled in the Queensland Parliament by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning and each month, a Shareholder Report was sent to all CNI shareholders. 

In addition, External Auditors from the Queensland Audit Office conducted an annual Independent Audit Report, which was included in the yearly financial statement.

CNI also provided extensive contractual and project documents via the CNI website (www.citynorthinfrastructure.com.au) and provides detailed response to enquiries from the media, community and other stakeholders where it can do so without breaching commercial arrangements or privacy rules.

By 2026, the population of South East Queensland is expected to increase from 2.6 million to about 3.7 million, with Brisbane bearing the brunt of that growth.

The existing road network cannot accommodate the expected increase in traffic associated with this growth as more and more people travel to the inner city to access employment, commercial and administrative services, and cultural and recreational opportunities.

Every year SEQ roads are becoming more congested during peak periods. Traffic pressures are causing delays and frustration for both motorists and public transport users, especially on major north side arterials such as Sandgate Road and Lutwyche Road.

Ongoing development of the Australia TradeCoast precinct will lead to employment and residential growth causing even more traffic. The precinct comprises 8000 hectares of commercial and industrial land surrounding Brisbane’s seaport and domestic and international airports.

• enables motorists to bypass 18 sets of traffic lights between Bowen Hills and the airport
• adds six extra lanes to the traffic network between Bowen Hills and Kedron and four extra lanes between Kedron and Toombul
• gives motorists using the Clem7 new exit options at Kedron and Toombul
• is expected to reduce traffic on Lutwyche Road by up to 40%.

The Windsor to Kedron section of the Northern Busway includes:

• 1.5 kilometres of tunnel under Lutwyche Road and Gympie Road
• state of the art bus stations at Lutwyche and Kedron and new bus shelters;
• ability to cater for 47,000 public transport trips per day by 2016 – more than five times the current number
• a bus every 20 seconds by 2026
• part of a busway network that will eventually span the city, combining with the existing rail network to complete the city’s major public transport system.

Brisbane City Council’s local bus services still operate in northern Brisbane suburbs along the surface roads. However a fast, frequent public transport bus service connecting the city and northern suburbs operates on the Northern Busway. 

More details on bus services and stops is provided by TransLink at Translink's website.

Building the section of the busway between Constitution Road, Windsor and Sadlier Street, Kedron with Airport Link ensured efficiency and better value for the State.  This stage had similar works (tunnelling) and significant capital works closely linked to Airport Link, particularly in Kedron.

The construction of the two projects offered a significant opportunity to drive better value for money and better outcomes for the local community (for example, by avoiding separate construction of two major projects).

Construction of the Airport Link and the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) projects began in November 2008. The start of construction was marked by an official sod-turning ceremony attended by Premier Anna Bligh on 6 November 2008. Both projects opened in mid-2012.

• reliable and fast access to and from the domestic and international airport terminals
• reduced traffic congestion and delays for business, Brisbane’s residents and visitors
• savings of more than 10 minutes for trips going to and from the airport during peak periods
• improved road safety
• reduced traffic delays and improved reliability with the overpass providing a direct connection between the East-West Arterial Road and Airport Drive.

The Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade projects were delivered at a fixed cost to the taxpayer of $1.7 billion.

• The State’s contribution to Airport Link is $267 million.
• The D&C cost of the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) is $444 million.
• The D&C cost of the Airport Roundabout Upgrade is $272 million.

During construction, Thiess John Holland established nine major construction sites along the project alignment, located at:

• Federation Street, Windsor (Bowen Hills precinct)
• Truro Street, Windsor (Windsor/ Lutwyche precinct)
• Lutwyche (Bradshaw Street)
• Kedron (Colton Avenue) – Northern Busway
• Kedron Brook Building/DES complex
• Stafford Road (ALOC site)
• Wooloowin – Rose Street
• Toombul Shopping centre car park and Kalinga Park (Toombul)
• East West Arterial, Toombul (Airport Roundabout Precinct)

At peak employment 4,500 people were working across the projects, surpassing predicted employment levels by more than 1,500 jobs. More than 30,000 people were inducted on the Airport Link projects.