QLD Tolls going up 20% from Oct 17

[csv8]

THE cost of using Brisbane Airportlink will rise again next week, but not as much as expected, after motorists voiced their concern about toll prices.

From Thursday, October 17, tunnel users will pay $4.48 to travel the Bowen Hills to Toombul stretch and $3.53 for the shorter routes between Bowen Hills and Kedron, and Kedron and Toombul.

The tunnels currently cost $3.74 and $2.90 to use.

Airportlink operator BrisConnections had planned to lift tolls to $4.98 and $3.74 but yesterday a spokeswoman said it had listened to feedback from motorists.

"We decided a smaller toll increase would be less burdensome on household spending," she said.

The 20 per cent toll hike follows on from an even smaller rise in traffic volumes through the tunnel in the September quarter.

Figures released by BrisConnections yesterday showed an average of 53,236 vehicles a day used the tunnels, up 2.2 per cent on the previous quarter.

However traffic is just over a quarter of what it was meant to be at this stage, with a projected 190,000 vehicles originally expected to use Airportlink six months after opening.

Its popularity has also waned considerably since tolls were applied, with an average of 74,567 vehicles using the tunnels every day last September when the $4.8 billion road was free.

Brisbane's other embattled tollway, the Clem7, also recorded a small improvement in patronage in the September quarter.

RiverCity Motorway counted an average of 27,302 vehicles a day through the cross-city underwater tunnel, up from 27,016 in the June quarter.

The improvement occurred despite the latest increase in tolls to $4.16 for cars, up from $4.05.

No further increases are planned for Airportlink in the foreseeable future.

BrisConnections remains in the hands of receivers PPB Advisory with debts of more than $3.5 billion.

The $3 billion Clem7 was sold for $618 million to the Queensland Investment Corporation-owned Queensland Motorways, which also operates the Gateway bridges and Logan Motorway.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...f2-12267356814

[kaniSS]

Queenslanders put them out of business. Don't use these roads.

[jamies]

Lucky I live where there are no tolls in Qld...

[blueoval]

Ive been on this airport link motorway before during peak hour and it was slow going at best when I was there. Are there alternative ways which are toll free but perhaps a bit slower to travel from the airport out?

[supershifty]

I only use the Gateway/Heilscher bridge toll as it saves me some serious time travel to the SE suburbs. They can shove their tunnels, varied speed zones and associated "feed" cameras.

Cheers!

[TheSneakiness]

The only tunnel I would consider using on a daily basis is Legacy Way cause I hate the state Milton Road is in.

I'll avoid the other tunnels, just not worth it.

[jpd80]

Why doesn't everyone just boycott the tunnels until the speed cameras are removed.

Send them broke.

[nstg8a]

Lol they have no clue...


Not enough are using the tunnels, so they not making as much money, most businesses would look at that and go 'it seems we are priced above the market' and adjust down to a level that sees patronage rose, and income rise with it, but no, these guys seem to think putting the prices up will encourage more traffic?

Dodgy logic is dodgy.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Lol they have no clue...


Not enough are using the tunnels, so they not making as much money, most businesses would look at that and go 'it seems we are priced above the market' and adjust down to a level that sees patronage rose, and income rise with it, but no, these guys seem to think putting the prices up will encourage more traffic?

Dodgy logic is dodgy.

agreed. i've never understood that twisted logic. the over estimated the volume of traffic so raise the tolls?? they really do live in another world these beaurocrats.