<p>The Federal Government has dipped into the AusLink kitty, approving the release of cash to fund the construction of a new road overpass over the rail line at Acacia Ridge.</p> <p>The separation of road and rail at the crossing would improve safety, travel times and enable more efficient movement of interstate rail freight to and from the Acacia Ridge Intermodal Terminal, transport minister Mark Vaile said.</p> <p>The QR-owned and run Acacia Ridge Intermodal Freight Terminal is the largest in Queensland, and handles around 27 interstate freight trains each week. </p> <p>“The project involves the construction of two road overpass bridges over the rail track and then lowering the existing Brisbane to Sydney standard gauge rail line by 10 metres below Beaudesert Road so that rail traffic passes under the new road bridges,” Mr Vaile said. </p> <p>“This is important with the number and length of freight trains forecast to increase in coming years, as will traffic volumes on Beaudesert Road,” he said. </p> <p>Construction will commence shortly and is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. </p> <p>The Federal Government has approved the use of $25m in AusLink funds for the construction of the overpass. </p> <br />
