TransApex

TransApex is transport plan devised by Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman as the Liberal candidate in the 2004 local government election in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Like many modern cities Brisbane is experiencing increasing traffic congestion during peak hours (morning 7-9 am and afternoon 5-6 pm.)

TransApex has been said by Newman to be the biggest urban road project proposed in Australia.

Newman originally proposed a system of five tunnels to be funded by a combination of a maximum toll of $2 and a $1 billion contribution from Federal, State and City governments. The project was said to be "fully costed" by Newman's financial adviser David Graham in the Courier Mail prior to the election and was said to cost no more than $3.2 billion in total for the first four tunnels, plus an additional $800 million for the duplication of Kingsford Smith Drive. It was stated in the Courier Mail by Newman that if needed Brisbane City Council could build the 5 tunnels without any contribution from any other government. Newman promised that the first four of these tunnels would be delivered within 10 years of his obtaining office in 2004, and the final tunnel no later than five years after.

Since the 2004 election Newman has changed his plans considerably. It now consists of four tunnels and one bridge linking various parts of the city. The Kingsford Smith Drive Tunnel has been abandoned, and a tunnel linking the end of the North South Bypass Tunnel to the Brisbane Airport is planned instead. There has already been a major cost blowout in the TransApex project and construction has only commenced on the NSBT to date. With the NSBT tunnel alone costing more than $3 billion. it is unlikely that all five segments of TransApex can be built for the promised $4 billion.

Support for TransApex is far from universal and Brisbane City Council has struggled to gain financial support for any of the projects from the Queensland and federal governments, particularly with regard to the latter two described below.

TransApex projects

Clem Jones Tunnel (North South Bypass Tunnel)

Main article: Clem Jones Tunnel

This tunnel was the largest project and commenced construction in 2006 after the Royal Queensland Show in August. It will link Woolloongabba to Bowen Hills via Kangaroo Point under the Story Bridge.

This tunnel was originally devised by then Lord Mayor Jim Soorley (Labor) in 2001. Soorley's original plan included a "Phase 2" and "Phase 3" of construction which has subsequently become Newman's Airport Link.

This project is being delivered as a Public Private Partnership or PPP. The successful tenderer for the project was announced on 27 April 2006 by Newman, with the Rivercity Motorway consortium winning in favour of the BrisConnections bid.

Tolls for this tunnel have been set at $3.30 in 2004 dollars, which is estimated to be approximately $4.10 (subject to change due to actual inflationary outcomes) in 2010 dollars - when the tunnel is expected to commence operations.

The cost of the construction of this tunnel segment alone is reported to be more than $3 billion in total (including private sector contribution, Council contribution and sunk costs) as opposed to the original estimate of $900 million. The Brisbane City Council will be required to make a contribution of $503 million to the private developers of the tunnel in 2010, as well as spending more than $260 million in associated council works, purchasing land and other sunk costs.

Newman has been quoted as saying this could be a $3 billion "plus" project when completed, so final costs are not yet known.

The Clem 7 tunnel opened on 18 March, with traffic able to use the tunnel toll-free for 3 weeks due to its early opening. The toll will be set at $4.28 once this introductory period is complete. The first few days of operation have seen the tunnel plagued with problems - particularly with traffic at the northern end of the tunnel gridlocked around a single set of traffic lights onto Lutwyche road. Council spokespersons have suggested that the problems will be alleviated when further tunnels are opened - but that the timeframe for this is in excess of 2 years.

Airport Link

Main article: Airport Link

This project is not part of the TransApex plans as proposed by Newman. It has replaced the original TransApex tunnel under Kingsford Smith Drive as proposed by Newman. After obtaining office Newman commissioned a feasibility study which rejected his Kingsford Smith Tunnel in favour of the Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the original North South Bypass Tunnel plan presented to Brisbane City Council by Mr Soorley.

This tunnel wil be built in conjunction with the Northern Busway and will link the CBD and the North-South Bypass Tunnel to the Brisbane Airport via Kedron. The Airport Link Project will delivered as a PPP project, with tenders due to close in December 2007.

The Queensland State Government will manage the procurement of the project with support from Brisbane City Council. The State has committed to providing partial funding for the project.

Toll and construction costs are yet to be released but as with the Clem Jones Tunnel the toll is expected to be in excess of $4.10 each way.

The Southeast Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program estimates the project cost as $3.4 billion [1] which is more than double the original estimate.

Traffic increases resulting from Airport Link will lead to major increases in congestion on roads in North Brisbane including Gympie Road, Stafford Road and the Inner City Bypass [2].

As reported in the Australian Financial Review ('Toll-road punters go into reverse' 1.8.08 p. 76 by Alan Jury) 11% of shares in BrisConnections (the consortium responsible for Airport Link) were dumped when the company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. According to the AFR, units bought at $1 were sold at 41c.

Go Between Bridge

Main article: Go Between Bridge

This was originally proposed as a tunnel, but after obtaining office Newman commissioned a feasibility study which rejected this link being constructed as a tunnel. It has consequently been changed to a bridge for economic and engineering reasons.

This bridge will connect the Inner City Bypass with Merivale and Cordelia Streets in South Brisbane. The bridge will be to the west of the existing William Jolly Bridge.

There have been protests against the Bridge by residents of the West End and South Brisbane, especially those connected with Brisbane State High School. Significant "remediation" works are planned to mimimise the impact on South Brisbane residents.

The cost of building this bridge will be in excess of $307 million [3] (pre-feasibility estimates in 2004 were $120 million). The toll is likely to be in the $2.30 range which is the lowest of all TransApex segments. Council has decided that the toll will only be in place long enough to pay off the construction of the bridge. Newman has indicated that even though the council has made this decision, that this would not stop a future council from extending the length and cost of the toll.

Council has decided that this bridge will be built as council project but Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is under pressure to refuse Council tolling powers to the bridge due to its major negative impacts.

Legacy Way

Main article: Legacy Way

This tunnel (formerly known as the Northern Link) is intended to link the M5 Western Freeway at the Toowong roundabout to the M3 Inner City Bypass near the Normanby Fiveways.

Construction of the tunnel is due to commence in February 2011 and will take four years to complete.

Kevin Rudd committed $500 million to this project in the 2007 election.

In a "Financial Blueprint" released by Newman on 13 Feb 2007 it was stated that Council could finance this project for $933 million without any contribution from the Commonwealth or Queensland State Government.

In May 2008, Brisbane City Council released the proposed route. Northern Link

East-West Link

Main article: East-West Link

This tunnel is proposed to link the Western Freeway at the Toowong roundabout to the Pacific Motorway at Buranda.

After obtaining office Newman commissioned a feasibility study which strongly recommended that this project not be commenced in the near future.

This tunnel is not expected to be commenced until at least after 2026 (if at all) and does not appear in the Queensland State Government South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program running to 2026.

Toll and construction costs and whether this project will be a PPP have not been released.

External links

• BCC TransApex project page
• Communities Against The Tunnels (lobby group opposed to car tunnels in Brisbane)
• Rivermouth Action Group (lobby group opposed to tunnelling in Brisbane)
• copy of Campbell Newman's election policy "Moving Brisbane" which contains TransApex.
• Northern Link project page