Peak-hour commuters in South East Queensland, especially those navigating roads near Mt Gravatt, are now enduring dramatically slower journeys. A stark RACQ analysis of the region’s worsening traffic gridlock shows that average speeds on the worst-hit sections plummet to just 20 kilometres per hour.
Worsening Gridlock Across SEQ
The latest Travel Speeds Report from Queensland’s peak motoring body, the RACQ, paints a grim picture of traffic flow across the South East. Based on data analysed from Transport and Main Roads covering travel last year, the report reveals a steady decline in traffic speeds compared to five years ago in 2019.
On weekdays last year, average morning rush hour speeds were found to be slower on 65 out of 98 major road sections studied across Brisbane, representing 66 per cent of those corridors. The situation was slightly worse in the afternoon peak, with 67 sections (68 per cent) experiencing slower speeds than in 2019. Overall, peak-hour speeds on some major routes have slowed by as much as 39 per cent since 2019.
Hotspots Hit Hardest
Certain areas are feeling the squeeze more than others. The Logan Road section between Padstow Road and Kessels Road, impacting suburbs like Mount Gravatt, Upper Mount Gravatt, and Macgregor, recorded the worst inbound morning peak congestion. Average speeds dropped dramatically from 31 kilometres per hour in 2019 to just 20 kilometres per hour last year. For the afternoon peak, Sandgate Road between Braun Street/Roghan Road and Depot Road saw average speeds fall sharply by 38.6 per cent, from 44 kilometres per hour in 2019 down to 27 kilometres per hour.
Other significant bottlenecks include the Centenary Motorway between the Ipswich Motorway and Dandenong Road, where morning traffic crawled at an average of 31.7 kilometres per hour – a staggering 63 kilometres per hour slower than speeds during free-flowing conditions. Heading outbound from the city, the Pacific Motorway section between North Quay and O’Keefe Street was the most congested, slowing to an average of just 28 kilometres per hour.
On the Gold Coast, the Pacific Motorway stretch from Nielsens Road to the Nerang River at Carrara showed the largest difference between peak and free-flow times in the afternoon, averaging 40.7 kilometres per hour, which is 48.9 kilometres per hour slower than unimpeded travel. Commuters using the Centenary Motorway from the Ipswich Motorway to Fig Tree Pocket Road during the morning peak last year faced an average journey speed of only 35.9 kilometres per hour, adding almost seven minutes to their drive each way.
RACQ calculates this equates to motorists losing more than 28 hours stuck in traffic over a standard working year. Gympie Road users travelling outbound between Kedron Park Road and Albany Creek Road also suffered, crawling at an average of 24.8 kilometres per hour during weekday afternoon peaks, over 18 kilometres per hour slower than free-flow speeds.
Call for Long-Term Plan
In response to these findings, the RACQ urgently calls for a comprehensive, long-term transport plan for South East Queensland. RACQ Head of Public Policy, Dr Michael Kane, stated that such a strategy is desperately needed to tackle the chronic congestion, which is harming the region’s productivity and the lifestyle residents value.
He noted that with the 2032 Olympic Games approaching and continued population growth, addressing transport infrastructure is critical. Dr Kane suggested public support for the Games would increase if people saw clear legacy benefits, particularly better transport options.
Proposed Road and Motorway Upgrades
Dr Kane highlighted critical gaps in the region’s outer ring road system, currently formed by the Gateway, Logan, and Centenary Motorways. He explained that these missing links unnecessarily funnel excessive traffic into and near the Brisbane CBD, causing significant stress on the network. The RACQ believes governments must seriously consider delivering an upgrade for the Centenary Motorway between the Ipswich Motorway and Legacy Way in Toowong. Furthermore, planning for a new north-west corridor connecting the Centenary Motorway with the Bruce Highway must divert through-traffic away from local roads.
Progress is also needed on previously announced projects. Dr Kane pointed out that $1 billion was allocated in 2019 for Gateway North Motorway upgrades, a stretch where motorists faced average afternoon peak delays of three and a half minutes last year just between the Deagon Deviation and Pine Rivers Bridge. He urged that this work and the proposed Bruce Highway upgrades from Pine Rivers Bridge to Anzac Avenue should proceed.
Public Transport and Cycling Solutions
Beyond road infrastructure, the RACQ advocates for significant improvements to public and active transport to give commuters viable alternatives to driving. Dr Kane identified the severe congestion on Gympie Road as requiring urgent planning, suggesting solutions could include expanding Brisbane Metro services north to Carseldine. He also proposed extending Metro services south to Loganholme and east to Capalaba, potentially using smaller electric ‘Metro Glider’ buses on other key routes into central Brisbane.
Certainty regarding future public transport connections to the Brisbane Airport precinct is also necessary. Complementing these public transport investments, the RACQ supports the expansion of cycling paths across the region to encourage more people to leave their cars at home for their daily commute. The motoring body affirmed it will continue to work with all levels of government to push for better transport planning that delivers lasting benefits for Queenslanders.
Published Date 09-April-2025
