Sustainability

The Clem Jones Tunnel, aka the Clem7, sustainability is being question by many Brisbane citizens as the high costly to build and payment to use it. Clem7 is the first M7 motorway in Brisbane to the further development of motorways for Brisbane. Construction began in September 2006 and was completed in March 2010, two years to the expected due year which was 2012 (Brisbane City Council, 2011).  

(Moore, 2012: the Construction of the Clem7)

However the expected use of the Clem7 tunnel by Brisbane citizens was not what Brisbane City Council expected. In 2012 Tony Moore, a newspaper report, stated that since last June, three months after the complete date, traffic on the Clem7 tunnel has plummeted by 2363 vehicles which is nine per cent of the expected use.  This is because of the high toll price that people must pay for the use of the tunnel. Many people are against the toll price they must pay on top of the rate payment that was estimated to be between $763 million and $773 million for a total of $2.2 billion for the tunnel to be built (Moore, 2010).  On the original report that was done by Moore on the Clem7 struggles a person in July 2012 has commented

               
 “Let these figures send a crystal clear message to our bloodsucking politicians advising them the people are already paying more than enough to use the roads and they don’t want tolls under and circumstances.” (Moore, 2012)

Another person going by the name of Rail Fan posted on the same date that

“These toll roads are a massive waste of money and the taxpayers always end up the losers. The Private Company’s lobbing for these roads always overstate the costs and expected usage [of the tunnel].” (Moore, 2012)

The sustainability of the Clem7 tunnel is always being questioned by the Brisbane citizens. There are also the huge amounts of fines that people who use to use the clem7 for over speeding.

So what is the point of a tunnel that cost $2.2 billion to be built when hardly anybody wants to use it because of the toll being too high and the ridiculous speed fines? With the problems now will the government or even the people change their mind on the future use of the Clem7 tunnel?

 In a personal view about the Clem 7, I think currently the sustainability of the tunnel will plummet unless less costly cost of the use of the tunnel is decrease. For the future of it is believe that it will hold significant use to reduce the motorway system for present and future generation’s needs. The statistic received on the tunnel can help the future generation to understand the sustainability of any future projected constructed. 

Reference List:

Brisbane City Council. (2011). Clem7 construction facts and figures. Retrieved 6 June 2013 from http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/roads-infrastructure-bikeways/tunnels-bridges-major-roads/CLEM7/Construction-facts-figures/index.htm

Moore, T. (2010). THe Clem7, by the numbers. Retrieved 6 June 2013 from http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/the-clem7-by-the-numbers-20100226-p8xp.html

Moore, T. (2012). Clem7 struggles may take toll on Airport Link. Retrieved 6 June 2013 from http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/clem7-struggles-may-take-toll-on-airport-link-20120716-226ks.html

Ten. (2011). Clem 7 "backflip". Retrieved 6 June 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL1-w9hR4dE