The Western Freeway is a freeway in western
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
that runs from Milton Road in
Toowong
Toowong ( ) is a riverside Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Toowong had a population of 12,556 people with a median weekly household income of $1,927.
Geography
Toowong is ...
to the western side of
Indooroopilly where the freeway becomes the M5
Centenary Motorway. The freeway bears the symbol and forms part of
Metroad 5. There is one interchange, at
Indooroopilly onto
Moggill Road. A bicycle path runs the length of the freeway, allowing commuting to
Toowong
Toowong ( ) is a riverside Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Toowong had a population of 12,556 people with a median weekly household income of $1,927.
Geography
Toowong is ...
and onto Brisbane by bicycle.
History
The Western Freeway was constructed in two stages. The first stage was a single carriageway that stretched from Milton Road at Toowong south to Taringa Parade at Taringa, which opened to traffic on 31 August 1970. Construction of the dual carriageway second stage (Taringa Parade to Moggill Road) commenced in early 1973, but was halted later that year. However, construction restarted in 1976, and the section was opened on 24 May 1979. Later construction began on a direct link to the Centenary Highway, and the dual carriageway extension was opened to traffic on 19 December 1984. Around the same time, the first stage was duplicated.
In 2008–2009, the Toowong Bicycle and Pedestrian Overpass was constructed across the Toowong end of the freeway to connect the Western Freeway Cycleway (which runs parallel and east of the freeway) to Mt Coot-tha Road. The fifteen span composite bridge cost $5.4 million.
Work began in April 2011 on the
Legacy Way, a tunnel to link the Toowong end of the Western Freeway with the
Inner City Bypass at
Kelvin Grove to reduce travel time between the
Centenary Bridge and the Inner City Bypass by 70%.
In February 2014, work began on widening of Western Freeway (executed as part of Legacy Way tunnel project). The existing four lanes of freeway between western approach ramp of Legacy Way and Moggill Road interchange were upgraded to six lanes. The upgrade was intended to improve traffic flow on the freeway between Moggill Road and Legacy Way tunnel.
As a result of a citizens e-petition, on 9 October 2019, the overpass across the Western Freeway adjacent to the
Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery on the corner of Frederick Street and Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland, Queensland's lar ...
(formerly known as the Toowong Bicycle and Pedestrian Overpass) was renamed the Canon Garland Overpass in honour of
David Garland who pioneered
Anzac Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and ...
ceremonies at the cemetery. The renaming occurred on the 80th anniversary of Garland's death.
Exits and interchanges
The entire freeway is in the
City of Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is a local government area (LGA) which comprises the inner portion of Greater Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. Its governing body is the Brisbane City Council.
The LGAs in the other mainland state capitals ...
local government area.
References
See also
*
Freeways in Australia
Australian Capital Territory Canberra region
* Federal Highway - Between State Border with New South Wales, and Antill Street Roundabout. M23 designation diverts at the Majura Parkway interchange, while Federal Highway continues as A23.
* ...
*
Freeways in Brisbane
{{coord, 27, 29, 17.19, S, 152, 57, 59.27, E, type:landmark_region:AU, display=title
Roads in Brisbane
Highways in Queensland