TRAFFIC... there is nothing more frustrating than being in gridlock on the morning or afternoon commute.
The population of Brisbane in 2020 is 2,406,000, a 1.43% increase from 2019. As a result, commuters across south-east Queensland are spending an increasing amount of time travelling each day, with major roads in the region crawling at speeds as low as 15 kilometres per hour during peak periods.
Drivers continue to face traffic snarls during the traditional peak hours of 7am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm but the congestion lasts longer and sometimes occurs at unusual times. Avoiding peak hour has become all-but-impossible for Brisbane commuters, with peak hour starting as early as 5am with tradies hitting the road early to avoid congestion.
Data released last month from the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey found commuting times had risen across Australia and people were considering quitting their jobs because of it.
The survey found workers now spend on average 4.5 hours a week getting to and from work — a rise of 23 per cent since 2002.
Data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) shows Brisbane households spend $19,844 a year on transport — above the national average of $18,277.
An RACQ report found Brisbane's average petrol price was 141.9 cents per litre in June — more expensive than Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
And short-term off-street parking is the most expensive in the country, with an average hourly fee of $31.41.
Top 5 slowest spots in Brisbane (Inbound 6:00am to 9:00am) (June 2019)
- Sandgate Road (Junction Rd to East-West Arterial) 15 kph
- Western Arterial Road (Jubilee Terrace) (Elimatta Dr to Simpsons Rd) 20 kph
- South Pine Road (Stafford Rd to Samford Rd) 21 kph
- South Pine Road (Kremzow Rd to Old Northern Rd) 23 kph
- Junction Road (Sandgate Road to Kedron Park Road) 24 kph
Top 5 slowest motorway sections (Inbound 6:00am to 9:00am) (June 2019)
- Centenary Motorway (1.5km South of Toowong roundabout to Miskin St) 24 kph
- Centenary Motorway (Dandenong Rd to Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd) 28 kph
- Ipswich Motorway (Harcourt Road to Oxley Road) 28 kph
- Pacific Motorway (O'Keefe St to Hawthorne Rd) 30 kph
- Centenary Motorway (Sumners Rd to Dandenong Rd) 32 kph
Brisbane City Council has also released a list of Brisbane's slowest roads. The key finding are:
In the AM peak,
- Centenary Motorway between Logan Motorway and Ipswich Motorway had the fastest average speed at 78 km/h (100 km/h speed limit);
- Coronation Drive had the slowest average speed at 19 km/h (speed limit is 60km/h)
In the PM peak,
- Centenary Motorway between Logan Motorway and Ipswich Motorway had the fastest average speed at 96 km/h (100 km/h speed limit);
- Jubilee Terrace and Wardell Street had the slowest average speed at 24 km/h.
We’ve all been there. Running late for an appointment or meeting and stuck in traffic with no end in sight. While sometimes traffic is inevitable, it doesn’t always have to be.
Here are some of our top tips for avoiding traffic.
Stay local – enjoy the community and work live and play in one area.
Map out some alternative routes and try the routes.
Leave early – evidence shows if you leave earlier and avoid peak hour traffic, you’ll get to your destination a lot faster.
Book meetings and appointments around peak hour it will make life much easier.
Check traffic reports before you leave of check your iPhone.
Go green – walking or cycling is not only green but also a healthy way to get to where you’re going. Check out Brisbane bikeways here.
Use a GPS device with live traffic updates during your commute.
Carpool or Catch public transport – Visit Translick to plan your journey
Of course, if you own an iphone or an android, there are plenty of apps available now to help you avoid the traffic congestion such as:
- Traffic Australia
- Pocket Traffic
- Snarl Traffic
- Traffic Brisbane
- Brisbane BigEye
- Loop
- Waze
