Kingsford Smith Drive, Brisbane

Kingsford Smith Drive is a major road in Brisbane. The road was named after the aviator Charles Kingsford Smith. It connects the suburb of Pinkenba to the Brisbane central business district at the Breakfast Creek. Kingsford Smith Drive is one of the busiest roads in Brisbane, carrying an average of 61,773 vehicles per day between July and December 2014.[1]

Kingsford Smith Drive

Queensland
Kingsford Smith Drive at Hamilton, May 2015
General information
TypeRoad
Length7 km (4.3 mi)
Route number(s) State Route 25
Major junctions
Southwest end Breakfast Creek Road (State Route 25) Albion
 
Northeast end Eagle Farm Road (State Route 25) Pinkenba
Location(s)
Major suburbsHamilton, Pinkenba

History
Accident involving a towed plane on Kingsford Smith Drive in c. 1945

The first road along the northern bank of the Brisbane River was constructed in 1829/1830.[2] Convict labour was used to connect the main settlement to the women's gaol at Eagle Farm.[2] In 1882, the road was still no better than a rough bush track.[3]

The road was then known as Hamilton Road in one part and Eagle Farm Road in another part. In 1938, it was renamed Bailey Memorial Avenue in honour of John Frederick Bailey, Queensland Botantist and curator of the Botanic Gardens.[4] However, this name was not used in practice and, in 1953, the road was again renamed after Charles Kingsford Smith[5] although the idea of renaming it had been proposed back in 1938 when the Bailey Memorial Avenue was proposed.[6]

The road was once the major access route to Brisbane's old airport terminals. In 2002 the Inner City Bypass, Brisbane was opened. This bypass allowed traffic joining the Pacific Motorway to avoid the smaller and sometimes congested city streets. In 2016 a major upgrade project was commenced with this intended to be completed by late 2019. At August 2020 the project was still not complete with continued extensive traffic delays.

Route

The route runs along Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River from Albion via Hamilton, before passing under the Gateway Motorway at Eagle Farm and continuing to Pinkenba. At Hamilton the Kingsford Smith Drive meets Racecourse Road at a T-intersection. During the annual Bridge to Brisbane the road is temporarily closed in one direction.

Congestion
Traffic congestion on Kingsford Smith Drive at Hamilton, 1954
Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade, Looking west at Crescent Rd in July 2017
Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade, Looking east at Crescent Rd in July 2017

In February 2007 it was announced by the Queensland Government that the road was to receive a major upgrade and that traffic rates were estimated at 67,000 vehicles a day.[7] Traffic volumes on the road are increasing. This has led to a drop in the average speed on the road from 45 kilometres (28 mi) per hour in 2008 to 36 kilometres (22 mi) per hour in 2009.[8] The Airport Link tolled tunnel project is expected to reduce traffic volumes by 12%.[9]

Major intersections

The entire road is in the Brisbane local government area.

LocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
Albion00.0 Breakfast Creek Road (State Route 25) - south - NewsteadWestern end of Kingsford Smith Drive (State Route 25)
Albion -
Hamilton boundary		0.150.093Inner City Bypass - west - Bowen HillsNo eastbound exit to Inner City Bypass.
No westbound entry from Inner City Bypass.
Hamilton1.91.2Racecourse Road - north - Ascot, Eagle Farm Racecourse
2.61.6Nudgee Road - north - Ascot, Doomben Racecourse
Remora Road - south - Portside Wharf
3.82.4Southern Cross Way - north - HendraNo entry from Southern Cross Way.
No exit to Southern Cross Way southbound.
4.42.7Links Avenue North - south - Southern Cross Way
Schneider Road - north - Australia TradeCoast
4.93.0 Gateway Motorway - south - Sir Leo Hielscher BridgesNo exit to Gateway Motorway northbound.
No entry from Gateway Motorway southbound.
Pinkenba7.04.3 Eagle Farm Road (State Route 25) - north-east - PinkenbaEastern end of Kingsford Smith Drive.
State Route 25 continues north-east as Eagle Farm Road.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also

References
  1. Kristian Silva (18 March 2015). "Brisbane traffic increasing, report shows". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. Gregory, Helen (2007). Brisbane Then and Now. Wingfield, South Australia: Salamander Books. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-1-74173-011-1.
  3. Cole, John R. (1984). Shaping a city. Albion, Queensland: William Brooks Queensland. p. 16. ISBN 0-85568-619-7.
  4. "Plans For Wider Roadways". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 30 March 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  5. "Hamilton Road". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 3 July 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  6. "Kingsford Smith Avenue Wanted". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 17 September 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  7. Wardill, Steven; Chalmers, Emma (26 February 2007). "Up for sale". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  8. Tony Moore (November 2010). "East West Link v Kingsford Smith Drive: The great infrastructure stand-off". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  9. Tony Moore (4 February 2010). "Kingsford Smith Drive getting worse". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.

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