rivercity motorway opens tonight, page-16

I agree the numbers were a bit disappointing considering the road was toll free. However, if you take into account the 3 hours people were advised not to use the road and the number of people travelling at 50km/h and not sure which exit to take etc. then there is certainly scope for improved traffic numbers. Plus I understand there were some problems with traffic lights.

Anyway, they need 70% of forecast numbers to pay the interest bill which is around the 42000 mark for the first month of operation rising to 70000 after 18 months. Most toll roads can't pay their interest bill in the early years so the numbers are somewhere south of those to make it viable. Another positive is the state governent are raising the gateway motorway bridge fee to $3.85 which is very comparable to the tunnel's fees.

The traffic numbers over the next 3 months are likely to tell the story...