Residents in Bracken Ridge could be waiting until after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games before seeing relief from one of north Brisbane’s most persistent traffic headaches, following fresh questions over the future timeline of the proposed Gympie Road bypass tunnel.
The project has come under renewed scrutiny after Brisbane LM Adrian Schrinner referred to the tunnel as one of the first major projects expected to begin after the 2032 Games during Brisbane City Council’s 2026-2027 budget.
The comments have reignited debate about whether motorists travelling from Bracken Ridge and surrounding northern suburbs will continue facing years of congestion on the city’s busiest northern transport corridor before construction even begins.
A Project Beyond Carseldine With Flow-On Effects for Bracken Ridge
While the proposed tunnel would run underground between Carseldine and Kedron, its impact would extend well beyond the suburbs directly above the route.
Many Bracken Ridge residents rely on Gympie Road for daily travel south towards employment hubs, schools, hospitals and Brisbane’s CBD. Congestion frequently builds around major intersections including Beams Road, Hamilton Road, Rode Road and Stafford Road, creating delays that ripple across the wider northside road network.
The proposed nine-kilometre tunnel is designed to divert through-traffic away from these heavily congested sections, reducing pressure on surface roads and improving travel times for motorists travelling from growth suburbs across Brisbane’s north.
Planning investigations have identified potential tunnel entry and exit points near Chermside, although no final design has been confirmed.
Debate Intensifies Over Delivery Date
The budget comments quickly triggered criticism from political opponents, who argued that Northside residents should not be forced to endure years of additional congestion while waiting for a long-promised solution.
In response, the State Government rejected suggestions the project had been delayed or abandoned. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said planning work remains active and continues to progress through the review process outlined during the 2024 state election campaign.
Mr Schrinner’s office later clarified that the comments were intended to reflect the scale and complexity of the project rather than signal a formal post-2032 construction start.
The office noted that major transport infrastructure projects often require lengthy planning, approvals and funding arrangements before construction can commence.
Residents Question Whether Other Transport Solutions Should Come First
The uncertainty surrounding the tunnel has also fuelled discussion about whether alternative transport investments could provide faster relief for north Brisbane communities.
Online community discussions have highlighted growing support for expanded busway infrastructure, improved rail services and future extensions of Brisbane Metro into the northern suburbs. Supporters of these options argue public transport upgrades could remove vehicles from congested roads more quickly than waiting for a major tunnel project to be delivered.
Others maintain that Gympie Road’s traffic volumes have reached a point where an underground bypass remains the most effective long-term solution, particularly for removing through-traffic from local roads.
The debate reflects broader questions about how Brisbane should accommodate continued population growth while balancing investment between roads and public transport.
Years of Planning Already Underway
Despite ongoing uncertainty about delivery timeframes, significant planning work has already been completed.
In 2023, the Queensland Government committed $35 million towards a detailed business case for the tunnel through North Brisbane Infrastructure, a body established under the Queensland Investment Corporation.
A further $318 million was allocated in the 2024 state budget for pre-construction activities, including traffic modelling, engineering investigations and environmental assessments.
Responsibility for the project transferred to the Department of Transport and Main Roads in 2025, with the department continuing to review planning work and assess future transport options for the Gympie Road corridor.
Published 22-June-2026
Featured Image Credit: CrSallyLanders
