New milestone reached on $5.75bn Logan & Gold Coast Faster Rail Project

The removal of level crossings in Kuraby and Bethania is a step closer to commencing as updated designs are released to the public, with community engagement now underway. 

The level crossing removals are part of the broader $5.75 billion Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project in Queensland. 

Five existing level crossings between Kuraby and Beenleigh will be removed to help boost safety, reduce traffic congestion and improve cross corridor connections for local communities. 

The Beenleigh Road level crossing at Kuraby will be the first to go. It will be replaced by a road-over-rail bridge, with upgrades to nearby intersections to improve traffic flow and local connections. 

Key features of the preliminary design for the removal of the Beenleigh Road level crossing include: 

• Enhanced pedestrian and cyclist connectivity though new accessible pathways on Beenleigh Road and on both sides of the bridge, and safer crossings with raised pedestrian and signalised crossings 

• Road and intersection realignments to prioritise key traffic movements, minimise traffic queuing and improve traffic flow 

• Adjustments to local intersections, such as relocating the Beenleigh Road signalised intersection from the proposed location at Winifred Street to Donegal Street and upgrades to the intersection at St Davids Street 

• A widened bridge design will allow future expansion of Beenleigh Road, with space for up to four lanes to accommodate future travel demands and paths on both sides of the bridge 

Meanwhile in Bethania, the proposed rail line and station will be elevated above Station Road to remove the need to build a new road-over-rail bridge in the area. 

Not only will this option significantly lessen the impact on important community facilities and properties, but it will also help reduce construction disruption on Station Road and provide easier cross corridor access for the local community. 

Key features of the Bethania Station precinct upgrade will include: 

• Connectivity and accessibility 

• Improved cross-corridor community connectivity to important local facilities, including Bethania Waters Shopping Centre, Noffke Park, and Bethania Community and Aquatic Centres 

• Improved connections to the station including signalised pedestrian crossing on Station Road 

• Local roads and traffic conditions 

• Elevated station eliminated the Station Road level crossing at Bethania 

• Local road network remains largely unchanged 

• Retained cross corridor emergency access from Radke Road during flood events 

• Community amenity 

• Significantly reduce impacts to Noffke Park facilities, including Bethania community and aquatic centres 

• Elevated station over Station Road to provide new civic space opportunities while supporting precinct development 

Community engagement sessions in Kuraby and Bethania are now underway, and locals are encouraged to have their say on the designs of both project sites. 

“We are getting on with the job of delivering the infrastructure Queensland needs for 2032 and beyond. This is about connecting communities, delivering generational legacy infrastructure, and reversing a decade of decline and project mismanagement under the former Labor state government. 

“The release of these updated designs is now a major step forward in this project, which will deliver a critical upgrade to South East Queensland’s rail network and improve the traffic flow by removing five level crossings. 

“We’re pleased to be presenting the updated designs to the community and look forward locals providing feedback so that we can begin work on removing the first two of five level crossings,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said. 

Updated designs for other key stations and precincts along the 20-kilometre corridor of the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project will be progressively released and engagement sessions for these will be held later this year. 

The release of designs for the Kuraby and Bethania projects comes as further site investigations began for the project earlier this month. 

Drilling rigs, survey and noise monitoring equipment will be utilised as part of site investigations between Kuraby and Beenleigh to inform detailed design and construction planning activities. 

The $5.75 billion Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments on a 50:50 basis. 

This multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project will deliver: 

• Upgraded tracks, structures and rail systems between Kuraby Station and Beenleigh Station, providing four tracks through the 20-kilometre corridor 

• Station upgrades at Kuraby, Trinder Park, Woodridge, Kingston, Loganlea, Bethania, Edens Landing, Holmview, and Beenleigh 

• Level crossing removals at Kuraby, Woodridge, Bethania, Holmview and Beenleigh 

• Better connected communities through changes to the local road network and improved walking and cycling connections to stations 

• Enabling works for European Train Control System (ETCS) 

• Extension of the cattle siding at Holmview 

Designs have been further developed following the awarding of the design and pre-construction contract to ActivUs Alliance earlier this year. 

ActivUs Alliance is comprised of CIMIC Group companies CPB Contractors and UGL, ACCIONA, SMEC and WSP. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Have your say (1, 2); Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Roads & Infrastructure Australia