Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Riverview residents are set to benefit from an additional pedestrian crossing over the Ipswich Motorway following breakthrough changes to the project design. The addition of a pedestrian bridge at Tessman Street follows a recent review of design and access requirements, which means that the bridge can now feature both stairs and ramps.

Cross-motorway connectivity is a key aim of the multibillion-dollar Ipswich Motorway upgrade, which is being fully funded by the Rudd Labor government and constructed by the Origin Alliance. I said, with the state member for Bundamba, Jo-Ann Miller, that this is a win for the local community. I want to congratulate the local community, particularly Terry Murphy, who in an email today said, ‘Thank you very much, Shayne, for what you have done in relation to the issue.’ He said:

We will be very happy and safer walkers in this community now.

That is absolutely correct because not only will there be new vehicular and pedestrian connections in Endeavour Road but a new pedestrian bridge at Tessman Street will give residents another option, particularly those using Riverview train station. This is a great win for the local community. The Tessman Street bridge is expected to be finished in line with the project’s planned completion date at the end of 2012. It is another feature which will help transform the Ipswich Motorway into something of which we can be very proud. Congratulations to the Riverview community for their advocacy.