Airport Link
(July - November 2005)
Phase 1 of the Airport Link Detailed Feasibility Study was completed in late October 2005.
This phase sought to identify a preferred corridor for Airport Link within the study area opposite, for further investigation in Phase 2.
Many corridor options were investigated during Phase 1, including several variations of the central and western options outlined in the TransApex Prefeasibility Report.
The map opposite shows the Phase 1 study area.
Factors considered during the Phase 1 corridor investigation included:
- traffic and transport – strategic road network improvements, traffic congestion, travel times, accessibility, safety
- public and active transport – scope for improved services and opportunities for possible integration of the Airport Link and Northern Busway proposals, and improved pedestrian and cycle facilities
- social and community – local amenity, construction impacts, community facilities
- environment – air quality, noise and vibration, contaminated land, flora and fauna, cultural heritage
- urban design and landscape – preserving existing urban character, visual and landscape impacts
- engineering – existing infrastructure, geological conditions, construction methods, stormwater management
- land use – city and regional planning and support for future development patterns
- affordability – balancing construction and operating costs, and tolling.
Once the preferred corridor was identified the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council gave the project team approval to proceed to Phase 2.
The preferred corridor
On 23 October 2005, Premier Peter Beattie and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced a ‘western corridor' as the preferred corridor for further study in Phase 2.
As shown on the map opposite the preferred corridor generally follows Lutwyche Road from Bowen Hills to Gympie Road at Kedron and across to the East-West Arterial at Toombul.
Information gathered during Phase 1 showed that a western corridor would have more benefits and fewer impacts on the local and wider community because it would:
- allow better connections to other road and public transport projects
- allow better opportunities to integrate the Airport Link and Northern Busway proposals
- affect fewer residential properties
- cause fewer surface disruptions during construction
- better support future urban planning opportunities like the revitalisation of Lutwyche and Albion centres
- have fewer environmental and social impacts.
