TransApex
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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.
Brisbane has been stated to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the world and is experiencing increasing traffic congestion and grid-lock at peak hour.
TransApex is said to be by Newman and the biggest urban road project proposed in Australia.
Newman originally proposed a system of five tunnels that would 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 "full 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 that Brisbane City Council could build his 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 major cost blowouts in the transapex project and construction is yet to start on any of the proposed links.
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 Australian Governments, particularly with regard to the latter two described below.
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[edit] TransApex projects
[edit] North-South Bypass Tunnel
Main article: North-South Bypass Tunnel
This tunnel is the largest project and will commence 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. Full details of both bids have not been publicly released. Newman has refused to release the details of the losing bidder, despite giving assurances to the public that he would in April 2006.
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 2011 dollars - when the tunnel is expected to commence operations. This is more than twice the toll as originally promised by Newman.
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 and seriously calls into question Newman's pre-election financial costings. the Brisbane City Council will be rquired 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 before even one car drives through the tunnel.
Newman has quoted as saying this could be a $3 billion "plus" project when completed, so final costs are not yet known.
[edit] Airport Link
Main article: Airport Link
This tunnel replaced the original 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 is proposed 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. It is likely to be delivered as a PPP project, although that is yet to be decided.
The Queensland State Government have provided approximately $16 million for preliminary studies on this tunnel, but have not yet made any financial commitment to construction of the tunnel.
Toll and construction costs have not been released.
[edit] Hale Street Link (toll bridge)
Main article: Hale Street Link
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 is proposed to 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 has been considerable controversy over whether or not existing roadspace on the William Jolly Bridge will be closed in order to funnel traffic onto the Hale Street Bridge to make it viable. There has also been considerable protest 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. These impact minimisation projects were opposed by the council's Liberal minority, including Newman, but were passed by the Labor majority.[council minutes, 14 Nov 2006]
The cost of building this bridge will be in excess of $200 million (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 (but still 15% higher than Newman's election promise.) 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 (including one lead by him) from extending the length and cost of the toll.
Council has decided that this bridge will be built as council project.
[edit] Northern Link
Main article: Northern Link
This tunnel is intended to link the Western Freeway at the Toowong roundabout to the Inner City Bypass near the Normanby Fiveways.
There have not been any feasibility studies for this project. Toll and construction costs have not been released and whether this project will be delivered as a PPP is not known.
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
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