Return to Beams Road (Carseldine and Fitzgibbon) Rail Level Crossing project page. 

Beams Road (Carseldine and Fitzgibbon) Rail Level Crossing project Community Update

We have completed a business case to confirm the preferred design option to remove the existing Beams Road rail level crossing at Carseldine.

Beams Road is an important road that provides connections for communities in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. It currently experiences significant congestion at the rail level crossing, particularly during peak hours.

The overpass will remove the existing rail crossing boom gates, provide paths for walking and bike riding, and will integrate with the Carseldine station park 'n' ride upgrades.

Beams Road is controlled by Brisbane City Council and, we require council's approval for the design and construction before the project can be progressed.

With the business case now complete, we are working with Brisbane City Council to finalise the detailed design.

An overpass above the rail line will enable traffic to continue along Beams Road without having to give way to trains. This will help to alleviate some of the traffic congestion along Beams Road and minimise disruptions for rail services. While the project aims to improve traffic flow on Beams Road, the upgrade will also improve travel for people riding bikes and people walking. The project will consider all modes of transport, ensuring active and healthy transport options are provided for the community.

Once construction for the overpass bridge is complete, the benefits will include:

• reduced congestion and improved travel times
• improved efficiency and network reliability
• improved road safety for all road users.

Beams Road (Carseldine and Fitzgibbon) Rail Level Crossing project map

Consultation feedback

We would like to thank the community for their feedback and input into the business case.

We received:

• 154 submissions
• 78 online surveys completed
• 41 feedback forms received.

Overall, the feedback received shows the community supports the overpass.

Common themes include:

• support for the overpass being built and that the infrastructure was long overdue in the area
• connectivity and accessibility were important to respondents of the online survey
• active transport provisions must consider pedestrians, abilities and safety (responses showed that other connections to local bikeways and footpaths were of high importance)
• design features like the grade of the overpass, the width, barriers, signage are important
• environmental sustainability particularly consideration of the local fauna and management of flooding impacts.

Upgrade of Carseldine station park 'n' ride

To accelerate works, the upgrade of the Carseldine station park 'n' ride is scheduled to commence by the end of June 2022. Works will include building the new access from Balcara Avenue, in order to minimise disruption to park 'n' ride customers once construction of the overpass commences in 2023.

Beams Road upgrade (Lacey Road to Handford Road)

Brisbane City Council is responsible for the Beams Road upgrade (Lacey Road to Handford Road), located either side of the overpass. We are working with Council to coordinate delivery of the Beams Road projects.

How we listened

Project specific enquiries

What you said:

Feedback showed general interest in project details. Specifically, when the project will be built, what are the next stages of the project, what happens to the feedback, is there a wide range of stakeholders considered and if there was opportunities to provide regular and relevant information.

What we are doing:

All feedback received during the consultation period was recorded. This feedback was considered as part of the business case. The detailed design phase is the next stage of the project.

All impacts on stakeholders have been considered during the business case, and the impacted stakeholders will be contacted during the detailed design phase.

The community can contact the project team to provide feedback or to seek more information about the project at any stage.

Traffic and access

What you said:

Feedback showed concern about how an overpass will affect access and connectivity to local streets, train stations and shops and if the current congestion issues along Beams Road will remain the same. People also wanted to know if the project will manage the expected additional traffic to the area once the Carseldine Urban Village is built.

What we are doing:

The Beams Road overpass project aims to improve efficiency and reduce congestion on Beams Road between Balcara Avenue and Carselgrove Avenue.

As Beams Road is controlled by Brisbane City Council, the development of Beams Road and its capacity to accommodate existing and future traffic from various developments is managed by Brisbane City Council.

The intersection of Beams Road and Balcara Avenue is currently being upgraded as part of the Carseldine Urban Village development led by Economic Development Queensland. Balcara Avenue residents' access to Beams Road is not expected to be impacted by the overpass project. Access to the Carselgrove Avenue intersection on the northern side of Beams Road and Golden Place is not expected to change.

Our concept design for the Beams Road overpass project will not alter the existing access to the local shopping centre but will require the existing access to the Carseldine station park 'n' ride ride from Beams Road to be relocated to Balcara Avenue. The new access arrangement may be delivered as part of the Beams Road overpass project subject to funding availability and in consultation with Brisbane City Council.

Bike riding and pedestrian connectivity

What you said:

Strong feedback was received about active transport on the overpass as well as underneath the overpass and connections to other existing bike and pedestrian paths in the area. 

What we are doing:

We are leading the way with bike riding-friendly road upgrades across South East Queensland in accordance with the Queensland Cycle Strategy 2017–2027. The project team is investigating options in the design to allow for improved accessibility and connectivity with future bicycle network in the northern Brisbane area.

Environmental and visual amenity

What you said:

The wider community were really interested in the impacts to the environmental health of the local area including native plants, fauna and flooding impacts.

We received a lot of interest about noise barriers and if there was any potential increase in noise from an overpass.

What we are doing:

The business case study completed environmental assessments in accordance with the Environmental Processes Manual which can include assessments for biodiversity, noise, surface waters, cultural heritage and soils and erosion impacts.

The project team is developing the design to minimise physical impact to the environment and surrounding biodiversity values. An ecological assessment will be undertaken to better understand the potential for species habitats to occur in this area and to assist in the development of management measures.

The design phase will include the development of predictive noise models for post construction traffic noise. We have undertaken on site monitoring of existing noise levels to inform the noise assessment. Mitigation measures will be carefully considered in the design development.

Design

What you said:

Feedback showed interest in detailed designs and specifically if the design will considered future increases in traffic and whether other design options are being considered.

The community showed interest in the Northern Busway and if there were future plans for this project.

What we are doing:

We are currently developing a detailed design. The design will be shared with the community as the project progresses.

The Beams Road overpass project aims to improve traffic efficiency and reduce congestion on Beams Road between Balcara Avenue and Carselgrove Avenue.

Traffic assessment is being undertaken to ensure design will accommodate traffic growth at this location. As Beams Road is controlled by Brisbane City Council, the development of the remainder of Beams Road and its capacity to accommodate generated traffic from various developments is managed by Brisbane City Council.

Current planning indicates the Northern Busway is not needed for another 10 years or more. We will advise directly affected stakeholders and interested community members when progressing this planning further. We have considered the Northern Busway in current plans for the Carseldine area including the new park 'n' ride facility.

Next steps

The Business Case is now complete and we are progressing the detailed design. The detailed design will be shared with the community late 2022. Construction is anticipated to start in 2023.

We will continue to work with the community and stakeholders throughout this project.