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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-16 Daily Xml
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SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY

165 The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (24 September 2008). Can the Minister for Transport advise:

1. Have any feasibility studies been conducted into allowing the Southern Expressway to run in both directions outside of peak hours and on weekends?

2. If so, will the minister release any such reports?

3. Is the proposal feasible?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Transport has advised:

1. I refer the honourable Member to the question response tabled in Hansard on 14 October 2008, page 252.

2. I refer the honourable member to the question response tabled in Hansard on 14 October 2008, page 252.

3. The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure considers that the option to run the existing Southern Expressway in both directions would require major alterations and upgrades of the current infrastructure.

The original two stages of the Southern Expressway cost $162 million, but it could have been duplicated by the Liberal Government at the time for an investment of an extra $73 million.

Unfortunately the Liberals did not properly plan or fund the project, and to duplicate it now would involve modifying a significant number of bridges that are too narrow, as well as rebuilding access ramps and carrying out extensive earthworks.

This means duplication would now cost approximately $280 million; $177 million more than if the Liberals had planned and budgeted properly from the outset.

Because of this unnecessary and prohibitive cost and given this Government's current investment program on South Road, such as the Anzac Highway underpass, and our $2 billion public transport infrastructure commitment, the duplication of the Southern Expressway in the foreseeable future is not on the agenda.

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