New Toll Proposed on the Gateway Motorway????

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MOTORISTS face being slugged with a new toll on the Gateway Motorway.

The Newman Government has confirmed it is considering an extra toll point to pay for a much-needed upgrade of the motorway's northern end.

Without federal funding for the $1.3 billion upgrade between Nudgee and the Bruce Highway, the State Government says the only alternative to more tolling would be to delay the project indefinitely.

The toll would be a blow to thousands of motorists who use the motorway daily to commute between Brisbane, Redcliffe and the Sunshine Coast.

However, it would also mean those who use the route would contribute to any upgrade.
gateway motorway

Motorists may cop an extra toll on the Gateway Motorway to pay for an upgrade to the road's northern end. Picture Damian Caniglia


Unlike the Logan Motorway, the Gateway has just a single toll point across the bridges, meaning thousands of motorists avoid payment.

The tolling franchise for the Gateway and Logan motorways was sold to Queensland Investment Corporation by the Bligh government for $3 billion.

Introducing multiple toll points to raise more money, and potentially the value of the asset, was considered before the sale but ruled out with toll increases fixed to inflation.

However, the deal excluded the degraded northern section which has been the subject of inter-governmental funding disputes for years.

In the 2009 Southeast Queensland Infrastructure plan, the project was costed at $2.6 billion and the construction timetable "subject to federal contributions".

A spokesman for Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said while Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott had committed to the project, the Gillard Government was yet to take a position.

"If elected, the Federal Coalition has committed $1 billion towards upgrading the Gateway Motorway, therefore further tolling won't be needed," the spokesman said.

"Queensland's poor financial situation means that if federal Labor failed to match the commitment before the federal election we may need to consider further tolling or delay the project until it can be afforded."

A spokeswoman for Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said the Gateway Motorway North project was being considered.

"We're going through the right process which is that Infrastructure Australia is independently assessing the Queensland Government's proposal and we'll be guided by their advice," she said.

However, Mr Albanese's spokeswoman questioned why the Newman Government would consider placing an extra toll on the road if Mr Abbott was prepared to partly fund the upgrade if the Coalition won the federal election.

While there has been speculation about the timing of the Gateway project and other Coalition infrastructure promises in Sydney and Melbourne, Federal Opposition transport spokesman Warren Truss has insisted the Coalition remains committed.

"Our policies are fully costed and budgeted and each state government has confirmed that those timeframes meet their construction plans," he said.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1226545451881

My comment "Don't we pay enough in rego????? "