Northern Link is a proposed 5km underground toll road linking the Western Freeway at Toowong with the Inner City Bypass (ICB) at Kelvin Grove. Northern Link may include:

• two separate parallel road tunnels, each with two lanes of traffic
• a speed limit of 80km/h 
• a ventilation system to manage air quality 
• safety systems, including emergency exits, fire protection and monitoring systems 
• a fully electronic tolling system.

The problem

The benefits

Background

The problem

Brisbane's popularity as a place to live and work has created strong population, employment and economic growth over the past decade. Under the Queensland Government's South East Queensland Regional Plan, Brisbane must find room for 156,000 additional dwellings by 2031. With this growth comes challenges in dealing with traffic congestion.

Traffic congestion not only impacts on our lifestyle but our economy, by causing delays to goods, increased business operating costs and environmental costs.

In future years the Australia TradeCoast precinct near Brisbane Airport will become an economic hub for the region, experiencing substantial jobs growth, transforming it into South East Queensland's second biggest employment generator, behind the CBD.

The continued growth will put more pressure on key arterial roads. Currently, more than two-thirds of motorists travelling along Milton Road and Coronation Drive towards the CBD are actually destined for a location beyond the CBD.

A motorway standard road is needed to fill the gap that exists between the Western Freeway and the ICB.

The benefits

By providing an alternative route for Western Freeway traffic travelling to and from the ICB, Northern Link will:

• deliver travel time savings of up to 44% in 2014 and 66% in 2026 by reducing the peak period travel time from the Centenary Bridge to the ICB
• create more than 5000 jobs and $10.5 billion in economic benefits
• remove vehicles from surface roads
• provide a direct, reliable, high-speed route between the Centenary Highway/Western Freeway and the airport
• reduce traffic on Milton Road and Coronation Drive and reduce through traffic on some local streets
• enhance pedestrian and cycle networks.

Background

In 2005, Council’s TransApex prefeasibility study identified and investigated five links that would connect existing motorways and major arterials. It found the proposed Northern Link would provide an important bypass of Brisbane’s CBD and inner western suburbs. 

The study recommended further studies into the project and recommended a target opening date of 2016. 

These studies have now been completed and an Environment Impact Statement (EIS) report has been prepared.

Council completed a detailed feasibility study into Northern Link - a proposed toll road tunnel connecting the Western Freeway at Toowong with the Inner City Bypass at Kelvin Grove.

The study included the development of:

• an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• a project reference design
• a Business Case.

A business case analysis was completed for Northern Link in 2008. The business case found the project to be both technically and financially feasible.

The business case was updated to reflect the change in the project's design and delivery model.

More information

For more information on the EIS, visit the Northern Link technical website.