Australia’s longest road tunnel, Brisbane’s CLEM7, is open.

Stretching 4.8 kilometres under the city centre, the $3 billion tunnel links Bowen Hills on the city’s northside to Woolloongabba in the south and was officially opened by the Lord Mayor Campbell Newman at 10:00pm AEST yesterday.

Thousands of cars, trucks and motorbikes have begun driving the tollway under the Brisbane River that has four entrances – one on the northside and three on the southside.

The project was completed seven months early.

Motorists have until April 5 to use the tunnel for free before tolls are phased in.

‘Major milestone’

Speaking from the control centre, Councillor Newman said it was a major milestone for the city.

“On behalf of the 12,000 men and women that have worked for three-and-a-half-years to make this happen on behalf of the long-suffering motorists, I officially open this tunnel – the CLEM7 – in memory of the great Dr Clem Jones, [former] lord mayor of Brisbane,” he said.

Councillor Newman had hoped for a low-key opening to avoid accidents but he says hundreds of people were waiting in nearby streets trying to be the first to enter.

“It was very clear that people were going around the block,” he said.

“The very first thing we saw were a couple of motorcyclists duck around the head of these cones and get themselves right into pole position, so some of the very first vehicles to go through were actually two motorcyclists from the Shaftson Avenue end.

“People seem absolutely stoked and I am really thrilled the motorists are finally getting the sort of infrastructure that they deserve in the city.

“This is just the beginning – this is just one down and four big projects to go.

“I think people are happy and I think they will be happy when they really see how it operates at peak hour where they get those savings, so it just shows the way for Brisbane in the future.”

But the tunnel faced its first traffic snarl just hours after its official opening.

A car broke down shortly after 6am AEST near the tunnel’s northern exit.

Shawn Corbett from the Australian Traffic Network says the breakdown was quickly cleared.

“Traffic is flying through there at the moment,” he said.

Airport Link project

Premier Anna Bligh says the State Government will keep a close eye on patronage in the CLEM7 ahead of the completion of the state-funded Airport Link toll road.

Ms Bligh says usage of the tunnel will be an indicator for future toll road planning.

She has praised Councillor Newman for the project.

“If you go back, the history books will show that the first person to consider these sorts of tunnels was [former Labor mayor] Jim Soorley and credit to him,” she said.

“But the person who delivered it – and full credit to him – was the Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and this was a very big project.

“I think it’ll make a big difference and I congratulate him.”

- Reporting by Francis Tapim, Natalie Poyhonen and Chris Logan