A long-promised, multi-billion-dollar road and tunnel project is now advancing, designed to finally ease chronic congestion along the Gympie Road corridor, with preliminary works already underway as preparations are made for Transport and Main Roads to formally take full control of the bypass connecting Kedron to Carseldine.
For northside residents who have watched the project become a political football for years, the sight of drilling rigs and construction trucks marks a significant step forward. The engineering works are part of an initial phase to test earth and groundwater conditions, which will help determine the best construction methods for the massive undertaking. This preliminary work, managed by North Brisbane Infrastructure (NBI), is expected to wrap up later this month.
The proposed tolled tunnel aims to deliver faster travel times for commuters and return parts of Gympie Road to local traffic, cyclists, and public transport users. However, the project’s future has been secured under a major shift in management.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is set to take full responsibility for the project from NBI. This transition will be officially completed on 1 July 2025, a move the government says will allow the tunnel to be better integrated with the broader transport network and its capital works program.
With an estimated cost exceeding $14 billion, funding has been a key issue. The former Labor government had allocated around $300 million for these early works in its 2024 budget, on top of $35 million from the previous year to study the tunnel’s viability.
The project is not without its challenges. The 9km-long North West Transport Corridor, originally set aside in the 1980s, has since flourished into a valuable urban green space and wildlife haven. This has fuelled considerable community opposition to any potential surface road, pushing the focus towards a tunnel.
Brisbane City Council had previously floated two tunnel options, but the proposals were rejected by Infrastructure Australia for not adequately considering a cheaper surface route. Now, with TMR at the helm, the community is watching closely to see how the state will navigate these complex issues to deliver on its congestion-busting promise.
Published Date 16-July-2025
