Toowoomba Bypass
Toowoomba Second Range Crossing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Second Range Road, looking east from Cranley. | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Highway (Under construction) |
| Length | 41 km (25 mi) |
| Route number(s) |   |
| Ring road around | Toowoomba |
| Major junctions | |
| Northeast end | Warrego Highway (National Highway A2), Helidon Spa |
| |
| Southwest end |  Gore Highway (National Highway A39 / State Route 85), Athol |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Postmans Ridge, Withcott, Mount Kynoch, Cranley, Charlton, Wellcamp, Athol |
| Highway system | |
The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (also referred to as the Toowoomba Bypass) is a 41 km (25 mi) grade separated bypass currently under construction to the north and west of Toowoomba, Queensland. Construction commenced in April, 2016 with an expected completion date in early 2019.
History
The Warrego Highway is a major Brisbane-Darwin highway that passes through Toowoomba . The Gore Highway is a major freight corridor that travels from Melbourne (via the Newell Highway and the Goulburn Valley Highway) and terminates in Toowoomba.
At present, up to 22,000 vehicles (including 2900 heavy vehicles) traverse the city’s CBD each day, passing through up to 18 sets of traffic lights.[1]
Planning commenced for a bypass of Toowoomba in 2008.[2][3]
In August, 2015 the Department of Transport & Main Roads awarded The Nexus Consortium the contract to design and construct a bypass of Toowoomba[1][4] on its northern side, linking the Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa in the east and the Gore Highway at Athol in the west (via Charlton). Nexus was chosen for its design that employeed the use of a viaduct over the Toowoomba range (instead of tunnels) allowing the use of dangerous goods to utilise the bypass.[1]
The Federal and Queensland governments are jointly funding the $1.6 billion project on an 80:20 basis. It is being delivered in a 25-year public–private partnership with the Nexus Infrastructure consortium. Upon completion, the road will be tolled.[1]
Benefits
The Queensland Government says the benefits include:[5]
- Avoids up to 18 sets of traffic lights in Toowoomba
- Reduces travel time (by up to 40 minutes) and greater travel time reliability
- Improved freight efficiency by redirecting up to 80% of heavy and super heavy commercial vehicles away from the Toowoomba central business district
- Reduction in vehicle operating costs by ensuring a maximum slope gradient of 6.5% across the Toowoomba Range, a significant decrease from the existing range crossing which is up to 10%
- Accommodate regional growth and increase productivity on the Darling Downs
- Safer and less congested route than the existing range crossing
Route
The 41 kilometres (25 mi) route of the project is expected to include: 41 kilometres (25 mi) of bypass, a 30-metre cutting at the top of the range (instead of the twin, 700 metre, three lane tunnels in the reference design),[4] 24 bridges, six interchanges, nine creek crossings and one viaduct.[6]
The reference design, the basis for planning and environmental approval, features:[7]
| Section | Length | Carriageway | Speed Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gore Highway and Warrego Highway West | 13.25 km | 2 Lane (single) | 100 km/h |
| Warrego Highway West to Mort Street | 9.15 km | 4 Lane (divided) | 90 km/h |
| Mort Street to Warrego Highway East | 18.6 km | 4 Lane (divided) | 100 km/h |
The planned maximum gradient is 6.5%
Route features
| Location[8] | km[citation needed] | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helidon Spa | 0.0 | 0.0 | Warrego Highway (A2) – Brisbane | No entry from Warrego Highway eastbound and no exit to Warrego Highway westbound (except via a new U-turn facility on the Warrego Highway) | |
| Postmans Ridge | 3.8 | 2.4 | Murphys Creek Road bridge over TSRC | No entry or exit | |
| Withcott | 8.7 | 5.4 | Gittens Road | No entry or exit | |
| Mount Kynoch | 16.88 | 10.49 | East end of cutting | ||
| 17.58 | 10.92 | West end of cutting | |||
| 18.6 | 11.6 |  New England Highway (A3/S85) | No entry or exit | ||
| Cranley | 19.5 | 12.1 | Mort Street[9] | All entry and exit options available. Bridge over Mort Street, with all entry and exit ramps to the west. | |
| Boundary Street bridge over TSRC. | Eastbound entry to and westbound exit from TSRC | ||||
| Charlton | 27.75 | 17.24 | Warrego Highway (A2) | All entry and exit options available | |
| Wellcamp | 31.6 | 19.6 | Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road - east - Toowoomba / west - Cecil Plains, Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport | All entry and exit options available | |
| Athol | 40.95 | 25.45 | Gore Highway (A39/S85) westbound flyover | ||
| 43 | 27 | Gore Highway (A39/S85) | No entry from Gore Highway westbound | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Construction
The contract to design, construct, and maintain the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing was awarded to Nexus Infrastructure, a consortium of the Plenary Group, Cintra, Acciona, Ferrovial and Broadspectrum.[10][11]
Milestones
- 31 January 2014 - Federal and state governments agreed to underwrite $1.6 billion to build a tunnel[12]
- 21 August 2015 - The Nexus consortium awarded to finance, build, operate and maintain the motorway.[4]
- 15 April 2016 - Start of major construction
Timeline
- August 2015 — Contract awarded to Nexus Infrastructure[1]
- April 2016 — Construction commenced
- Late 2018[1]-mid 2019 — Scheduled completion. Originally scheduled for late 2018, but geological issues set back expected completion by 4 to 7 months.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing". Queensland Treasury. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ "Empire Theatre". Toowoombarc.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Abbott commits to Toowoomba bypass". News.smh.com.au. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ a b c Truss, Warren (3 July 2015). "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing preferred tenderer announced". Media Release. No. WT200/2015. Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ Queensland Treasury and Trade (28 January 2014). "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing - Project Fact Sheet" (PDF). Projects Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Main Roads (1 November 2013). "EPBC Referral Form" (PDF). Technical information. The State of Queensland (Queensland Treasury and Trade). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Projects Queensland (4 June 2014). "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing: Expression of Interest" (pdf). Expression of Interest. Queensland Government and Australian Government.
- ^ "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing". Department of Transport and Main Roads. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Mort Street interchange". Nexus Infrastructure. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
- ^ About Nexus Toowoomba Second Range Crossing
- ^ Nexus Consortium selected as preferred tenderer for Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Broadspectrum 6 July 2015
- ^ Department of the Premier and Cabinet (31 January 2014). "Start for Toowoomba Second Range crossing project". Media Statements. The State of Queensland.
- ^ "Jurassic problem on Toowoomba Second Range Crossing".