Hale Street Bridge breeds unhealthy congestion from start to finish

6 December 2007

Greens say "Can Campbell make congestion worse? Can he do it? Yes he is!! His honeymoon period is over."

The State government and Brisbane City Council are hotly disputing over traffic management associated with the construction of the Hale Street Bridge. Minister Warren Pitt is objecting to council's plan to close a lane on Coronation Drive saying it will cause 50 minutes peak  hour delays. Newman is bickering saying the traffic management plan is the best they can do.
The ALP majority and Liberal Councillors voted in favour of this disastrous Hale Street bridge despite trenchant community and Green Party opposition due to air pollution, costs blowout, school student safety and the need to spend big on public transport instead.
Ms Jo Bragg, Greens Lord Mayoral Candidate for Brisbane said today,

"Can do Campbell said he was going to fix congestion. But his tunnels and bridges are carving up the innercity, wasting precious council funds, causing greenhouse gas emissions to soar and creating not solving congestion. He is worsening the very problem he solemnly promised to fix. He is blocking our city's arteries making us unhealthier and unhealthier. Any commuter who watches in frustration as a full bus goes by knows that congestion is caused by  lack of convenient world class public transport not lack of bridges."
She continued, "The Environmental Impact statement for Hale Street Bridge showed that after it was built the majority of feeder roads  will be more congested not less. That's right the Bridge will cause congestion not reduce it, according to Council's own EIS and all ALP and Lib councillors know that-- it was addressed in full council meetings last year. What a disaster! This project is a tragic mistake for the people of Brisbane and I will write to Main Roads Minister Warren  Pitt urging him to do all he can to oppose the project."
"The Hale Street bridge breeds congestion from start to finish. Can Do Campbell's honeymoon is over. And the  ALP are a demoralised "me too" crowd that shows no leadership."
Only the Greens will provide the breath of fresh air that Brisbane needs.

Jo Bragg (Ms)
Greens' Lord Mayoral Candidate for Brisbane
Contact: 0406 916 657
GreenUpBrisbane.net