MAIN ROADS' RESPONSE TO JRA  OBSERVATIONS RE

SUMNER ROAD BRIDGE DUPLICATION - STAGE 3

  

  

Mr Wayne Williams
President
Jamboree Residents Association

Via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dear Mr Williams

Thank you for JRA’S email on 26 May 2011 regarding the Sumners Road Interchange Planning Study. We appreciate JRA’S involvement in the consultation process.

Responses to each of your queries and suggestions are included in the points listed below.

 Pedestrian, bicycle lane and shared pathway connectivity

  

The new shared pedestrian and cycle pathways and bridges outlined on the map of the preferred upgrade option are designed to link in with the existing Sumners Road and Centenary Motorway pathways, some of which were recently completed as part of the Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Wacol to Darra project.

• Cyclists and pedestrians will be able to cross from the southern side of the Centenary Motorway pathway to the northern side via a crossing at the proposed new signalised western intersection. As you have mentioned, pedestrians and cyclists will also have the option of crossing at the new Dandenong Road/Sumners Road intersection which is being constructed by Brisbane City Council.

• The preferred upgrade option shows the new shared pedestrian and cycle pathway will be located on the northern side of the new bridge. The project team considered adding the pathway to the southern side of the existing road bridge, however it was determined this was not possible due to engineering difficulties with adding a structure onto the existing bridge.

• On-road cycle lanes, joining into Brisbane City Council's Sumners Road upgrade, have been included on both sides of the road which is part of the department’s commitment to enhancing cycle connectivity with all new road projects.

• The preferred option does not include the construction of a tunnelled shared pedestrian and cycle pathway at the northbound off-ramp to Sumners Road for the following reasons:

• tunnelling was identified as a more expensive option.

• in some instances, other tunnelled bikeways and underpasses across Queensland have been found to attract anti-social and criminal behaviour, which is difficult to monitor.

• A more detailed plan of pedestrian and cycle routes will be developed through the detailed design phase. As noted in the project newsletter, further funding allocations from the Queensland Government are required to begin the detailed design and construction phases of the project.
   

Traffic lanes

• To develop both the preferred upgrade option and alternative option, the department undertook comprehensive traffic modelling. It was found that the forecast traffic volumes on Monier Road heading eastbound did not warrant the construction of two lanes as part of the project. Two westbound lanes on Monier Road have been included in the designs to help traffic flow freely through the intersection.

• More detailed plans of how traffic lanes merge into Brisbane City Council’s Sumners Road project will be developed through the detailed design phase, subject to further funding allocations.

• Regarding the on-ramp to the Centenary Motorway southbound, appropriate design standards have been followed to ensure the on-ramp ties into the existing ramp leading to the motorway.
  
  

Potentially affected land owners

• The planning study has identified potential land impacts at the eastern intersection near the Queensland Ambulance Service. Further property impacts have not been identified through the planning study.

•  Should further property impacts be identified through the detailed design phase, all potentially affected land owners will be fully consulted.
  
  

Noise mitigation

• The department will investigate whether there is a need for additional noise mitigation (such as noise barriers) near the interchange through the detailed design phase of the project. This is part of the department’s standard process.
  
  

Planning study consultation process

• The department aims to provide multiple options for the community to provide feedback throughout all phases of planning studies.

• Staffed displays were not planned as part of this final phase of the planning study as other targeted consultation methods have been used to engage the community key stakeholders. This includes sending copies of the project newsletter to all community members who provided feedback during phase one and two consultation, briefing elected representatives and property owners. Over 5,000 copies of the project newsletter were also distributed to residents of Middle Park, Sumner, Darra and Jamboree Heights.

• A static display with larger versions of the maps and images in the project newsletter is located in the Mt Ommaney electorate office.

• Community members can provide feedback on the planning study by calling or emailing the project team, filling out the feedback form in the newsletter or by filling out a feedback form at the static display.
  
  

Estimated detailed design and construction timings

• The timing of detailed design and construction phases of the project is subject to further funding allocations from the Queensland Government.

• Once further funding is allocated, it is estimated that detailed design, procurement and construction phases would take approximately three years to complete.

• The department will be able to provide a more comprehensive project timeline to the community once further funding has been allocated to continue the project.
  
  

Thank you again for your feedback, we trust this information is of assistance. If you require any further information, please don't hesitate to contact the project team via the details below.

 Kind regards,

 Sumners Road Interchange Planning Study| Metropolitan Region / Brisbane Office
Assets & Operations Division | Department of Transport and Main Roads