The Miles government has approved design work for the Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel in Brisbane, aiming to save motorists time by avoiding traffic lights.

The project is estimated to cost over $7 billion, with construction potentially starting in 2027.

The state budget allocates $318 million for design work by North Brisbane Infrastructure, backed by preliminary research and community consultation.

The tunnel is expected to benefit 40,000 vehicles daily, addressing traffic growth on Gympie Road.

The decision on construction will be made by the next government after the upcoming state election.

The project has support from the Liberal National Party council and tolling company Transurban.

Plans include investigating tunnel entrances and considering above-ground transport improvements to combat increasing congestion due to population growth.