Musgrave Road in Red Hill to See Clearway Extensions Under New Plans

Plans to extend clearways along Musgrave Road-Waterworks Road have been announced, as part of the Brisbane Clearway Action Plan, which aims to assess whether longer clearway hours are needed on this key corridor connecting Red Hill to The Gap.



Traffic Congestion in Red Hill Under Review

The Musgrave Road-Waterworks Road corridor is one of the busiest suburban routes leading into Brisbane’s CBD, carrying thousands of vehicles daily. Currently, clearway restrictions apply on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. inbound and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. outbound, but city authorities will review whether these hours should be extended, including possible weekend restrictions.

Musgrave Road Red Hill
Photo Credit: Google Maps Street View

Authorities have identified Red Hill as a critical point along this corridor, where parked cars frequently force lane weaving and slow-moving traffic. The goal of the extended clearways is to reduce congestion without requiring costly road widening projects.

Managing Traffic Flow Without Major Infrastructure Changes

As Brisbane continues to grow, city officials are looking for cost-effective solutions to ease congestion. Expanding clearways has been effective in other major cities, with Sydney’s Clearways Strategy reducing weekday travel times by up to 46 per cent in some areas. Brisbane’s initiative is expected to follow a similar model by optimising the existing road network.

BCC aims to improve traffic reliability along a corridor that experiences heavy commuter flow every day. The review will assess how extending clearway hours might impact travel times, particularly during non-peak periods.

Traffic Enforcement and Clearway Compliance in Red Hill

Clearways in Brisbane are already heavily monitored, with fines and towing enforcement in place for non-compliant vehicles. In 2024, authorities recorded over 9,650 instances of motorists blocking clearways, resulting in more than 1,660 towed vehicles.

The fine for stopping in a clearway is currently three penalty units, or approximately $480. Officials have reiterated that illegally parked cars can reduce road capacity by up to 50 per cent, further contributing to congestion.

Community Consultation and Next Steps

BCC will conduct public consultations with residents and businesses along Musgrave Road and Waterworks Road, with feedback informing final decisions on clearway extensions. The review covers the full corridor between Red Hill and The Gap.

This will be the first major clearway update in more than two years, following the Kelvin Grove Road-Enoggera Road extension in 2022, which saved an estimated 6,500 hours in travel time per year.



City officials have indicated that once the Musgrave Road-Waterworks Road review is completed, additional clearway extensions across Brisbane may be considered.

Published 5-Feb-2025