The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) commissioned HDR to undertake an Options Analysis for the 10km long Gympie Road corridor in northern Brisbane. It is one of the most congested corridors in Brisbane, carrying over 75,000 vehicles per day and 60 buses per hour on a six-lane arterial road. Traffic and bus patterns are complex, with Gympie Road serving major traffic generators and attractors.

HDR’s approach included undertaking an evidence-based assessment of the whole route to achieve network balancing and public transport and land use objectives. This enabled the solutions, at individual intersections and short sections of road, were compatible with each other and formed pieces of a coherent 10 to 15-year route improvement plan.

The route improvement plan balances bus priority measures and intersection improvements, and allows TMR to implement a sequence of short to medium-term improvements. Transport modelling supported the development of the project need and option assessment, to enable development of a robust, defendable, and resilient solution. HDR was also tasked with assessing options to respond to the project need, determining a recommended preferred option through technical analysis and stakeholder engagement, developing a concept design for the preferred option, and proposing a staging plan to break the route improvement plan into manageable packages.

This project demonstrated a comprehensive approach to addressing one of Brisbane’s most congested corridors, delivering a multi-modal strategy that aligned transport improvements with land use and broader planning objectives. Through rigorous analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic assessment, HDR provided solutions that not only resolved immediate operational challenges but also positioned the corridor for sustainable growth and future investment.