The troubled Clem7 tunnel experienced further problems early this morning when a car burst into flames.

The wreck was cleared quickly but not before traffic had come to a standstill.

Andrew Cook reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

The closed sign was up outside the Clem7 tunnel this morning as it recovered from its first major crash since opening.

Both lanes were closed when a car caught fire in the northbound tunnel near the Shafston Avenue entrance.

Fire crews praised the safety features of the Clem7 which quickly activated a sprinkler system.

Inspector Mark Welsh: “The Clem7, because of the systems they’ve set up, it’s very easy to find where it is.”

The driver was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation but it was motorists, delayed for almost two hours, who were feeling the real pain.

The congestion comes after a new study by the RACQ reveals Brisbane residents are waiting longer in traffic jams than ever before.

And despite billions of dollars being spent on road infrastructure in Brisbane, the RACQ says the money is being allocated to the wrong places.

Greg Myszkowycz, RACQ: “And even though we’re in a period now where we’re spending a great deal of money on infrastructure investment we’re only maintaining that set level of congestion rather than reducing it, it appears.”

With congestion set to get worse over the coming years local residents have come up with their own solutions to Brisbane’s problem.

Vox 1: “I think there’s a big push for people to use their bike, which is probably a good thing, but at the end of the day people are going to drive if they want to.”

Vox 2: “Most people still think that “If I have a car, I want to be mobile” so there’ll need to be a big change in public transport.”

Vox 3: “I think train subways is a great solution for Brisbane.”

Brisbane’s slowest peak hour roads include Logan Road, Moggill Road and Sandgate Road.

Andrew Cook, QUT News.