Slow lane: South East Queensland condemned to a generation of congestion

Queensland Labor Leader Steven Miles is calling on David Crisafulli to honour his promises after scrapping the Gympie Road Tunnel.

In June 2024, David Crisafulli said Gympie Road Tunnel “has to happen”.

“You can’t have so many people at the mercy of one congested road,” he said.

Since becoming Premier David Crisafulli has scrapped the project with LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner revealing work on the tunnel won’t start again until after 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Premier’s decision contradicts his previous promise and his statement that his Olympics Plan would “deliver generational infrastructure”.

While motorists are stuck in traffic, missing time with families members, paying more for groceries and burning expensive fuel while going nowhere, the Premier is saving money.

Queensland Treasury Annual Report confirms the scrapping of the Gympie Road Tunnel - cutting $27 million in funding for the project last year.

The annual report notes a reduction in spending as a result of the Gympie Road Tunnel. (Page 45)

David Crisafulli’s broken promise comes as Queenslander motorists waste 77 hours a year sitting in traffic, according to satellite data analysed by iSelect.

It means the average motorists is wasting 10 working days a year in congestion.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Labor Leader Steven Miles:

“Congestion is just out of control right now with motorists missing time with their loved ones, paying too much for fuel just to sit at traffic lights, increasing the cost of groceries and taxing peoples mental health.

“The State Government should be investing and planning in infrastructure to reduce congestion but David Crisafulli is cutting projects.

“David Crisafulli promised to build the Gympie Road Tunnel which would allow motorists to bypass 19 sets of traffic lights but he has broken that promise.

“The Premier’s decision means Queensland will be stuck in traffic for generations.”