Kingsford Smith Drive, Brisbane
Encyclopedia
The 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
.
tolled tunnel project is expected to reduce traffic volumes by 12%.
was constructed in 1829–1830. Convict labour was used to connect the main settlement to the women's goal at Eagle Farm
. In 1882, the road was still no better than a rough bush track
.
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. However, this name was not used in practice and, in 1953, the road was again re-named after Charles Kingsford Smith
although the idea of renaming it had been proposed back in 1938 when the Bailey Memorial Avenue was proposed.
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.
, before passing under the Gateway Motorway
at Eagle Farm and continuing to Pinkenba.
During the annual Bridge to Brisbane
the road is temporarily closed in one direction.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. The road was named after the aviator Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
. It connects the suburb of Pinkenba
Pinkenba, Queensland
Pinkenba is the name of a suburb in eastern Brisbane on the northern side of the Brisbane River. Despite being less than 10 kilometres from the Brisbane central business district, it has a largely rural feel to it...
to the Brisbane central business district
Brisbane central business district
The Brisbane central business district , sometimes referred to as the city, is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the Brisbane River to the east, south and west...
at the Breakfast Creek
Breakfast Creek (Queensland)
Breakfast Creek is a small tributary of the Brisbane River. It joins the river at Newstead, next to Newstead Park. The aboriginal name for the waterway was Barrambin. Travelling up the Brisbane River the creek is the first to join the river on its northern banks...
.
Congestion
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. Traffic volumes on the road are increasing. This has led to a drop in the average speed on the road from 45 km per hour in 2008 to 36 km per hour in 2009. The Airport LinkAirport Link, Brisbane
The Airport Link is a tunnelled motorway grade road which is under construction in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It will connect the Brisbane central business district and the Clem Jones Tunnel to the East-West Arterial Road which leads to the Brisbane Airport...
tolled tunnel project is expected to reduce traffic volumes by 12%.
History
The first road along the northern bank of the Brisbane RiverBrisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
was constructed in 1829–1830. Convict labour was used to connect the main settlement to the women's goal at Eagle Farm
Eagle Farm, Queensland
Eagle Farm is a largely industrial suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, situated around six kilometres from the Brisbane central business district. It is the former site of Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane's main airport until the opening of the Brisbane Airport. Eagle Farm was also the site of...
. In 1882, the road was still no better than a rough bush track
Bush track
Bush track is a term used in horse racing to describe unsanctioned, informal horse races run in rural areas of the United States and southern Canada. Quarter horses, ridden by amateur jockeys, are raced on makeshift tracks, often set up in the field where the horses are pastured using barrels or...
.
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. However, this name was not used in practice and, in 1953, the road was again re-named after Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
although the idea of renaming it had been proposed back in 1938 when the Bailey Memorial Avenue was proposed.
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
Pacific Motorway
The Pacific Motorway is a 100 km long motorway in Australia between Brisbane, Queensland, and the New South Wales-Queensland border at Tweed Heads. The motorway starts at Coronation Drive at Milton in Brisbane, and from 2008 links the Tweed Heads bypass in New South Wales...
to avoid the smaller and sometimes congested city streets.
Route
The route runs along Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River at HamiltonHamilton, Queensland
Hamilton is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, Australia, lying on the north bank of the Brisbane River along Bulimba Reach. The area is hilly with views of the Brisbane central business district....
, before passing under the Gateway Motorway
Gateway Motorway
The Gateway Motorway is a major motorway in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The Gateway Bridge is owned and operated by Queensland Motorways....
at Eagle Farm and continuing to Pinkenba.
During the annual Bridge to Brisbane
Bridge to Brisbane
Bridge to Brisbane is an annual 10 kilometer fun run held in Brisbane, Australia in August.The race distance is currently 10 km, although this has not been consistent over the life of the race. The first race occurred in 1997 with less than 5000 entrants and each year the event raises funds...
the road is temporarily closed in one direction.