Rockhampton Ring Road
Rockhampton Ring Road | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Highway (Proposed) |
| Length | 14.7 km (9.1 mi)[1] |
| Major junctions | |
| South-west end |  Capricorn Highway Fairy Bower |
| |
| North-east end |  Bruce Highway Parkhurst |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Pink Lily |
| Highway system | |
Rockhampton Ring Road is a 14.7 kilometres (9.1 mi) proposed highway from Fairy Bower on the Capricorn Highway south-west of Rockhampton to Parkhurst on the Bruce Highway to the north-east of Rockhampton, in Queensland, Australia. The road will be two lanes from the Capricorn Highway to a connection in Pink Lily (known as the West Rockhampton Connection) and four lanes from there to the Bruce Highway, including a new bridge over the Fitzroy River. It will enable through traffic to bypass the Rockhampton CBD, avoiding 19 sets of traffic signals, and will eliminate delays caused by flooding on sections of the Bruce Highway within the city.[1]
Funding and program status
[edit]As at July 2022 funding of $1.065 billion has been allocated, planning is complete, and the business case is being assessed by Infrastructure Australia. Detailed design has commenced, with construction expected to be complete by 2026.[1]
Preparatory works
[edit]The projects described below will facilitate the construction of intersections at either end of the ring road.
Capricorn Highway duplication
[edit]A project to duplicate the section of Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere was completed in mid 2021 at a total cost of $75 million.[2]
Rockhampton northern access upgrade
[edit]A project to upgrade the northern access to Rockhampton in the vicinity of the intersection of the Bruce Highway with Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road, at a cost of $194 million, was completed in August 2021.[3]
Route description
[edit]The road will start at an intersection with the Capricorn Highway in Fairy Bower. This will be at a three-way roundabout with a high level slip lane for traffic approaching from Gracemere. The road will run north-west, north, and north-east, crossing over several local roads and lagoons, before reaching a three-way roundabout in Pink Lily, known as the West Rockhampton Connection. From there a new exit and entry road will lead south to Rockhampton–Ridgelands Road[a], giving access to Rockhampton Airport, Rockhampton Hospital, and the CBD. This exit and entry road is part of an additional 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi) of new roadway included in the project. The ring road will include more than 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) of bridging.[1]
Continuing as a four-lane highway, the road will run north-east, north, and north-east again before crossing the Fitzroy River into Parkhurst and reaching an intersection with Alexandra Street, which will provide access to the North Rockhampton CBD. From there the road will continue generally north-east, crossing over the railway line and meeting the Bruce Highway and Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road at a four-way signalised intersection.[1]
Major intersections
[edit]Total distance is 14.7 kilometres (9.1 mi). Intermediate distances are not yet available.[1] The entire road is in the Rockhampton local government area.
| Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairy Bower | 0 | 0.0 | Capricorn Highway – south-west – Gracemere – east – Rockhampton | Three-way roundabout with slip road from south-west. South-western end of Rockhampton Ring Road. Continues north-west as a two-lane road. | |
| Pink Lily | New road south to Rockhampton-Ridgelands Road, then: – south-east – Rockhampton CBD – north-west – Ridgelands | Three-way roundabout. Continues north-east as a four-lane road. | |||
| Fitzroy River | New four-lane bridge | ||||
| Parkhurst | Alexandra Street – south-east – North Rockhampton CBD – north-west – Parkhurst | Grade separated intersection. Entry/exit type not yet defined. Road continues north-east. | |||
| 14.7 | 9.1 | Bruce Highway – north – Mackay – south – Rockhampton Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road – north-east – Yeppoon | Signalised four-way intersection. North-eastern end of Rockhampton Ring Road. | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Rockhampton Ring Road plan, preserve and construct". Queensland Government. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Capricorn Highway (Rockhampton - Duaringa) Rockhampton to Gracemere Duplication". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade". Queensland Government. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ The State Road Network of Queensland (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 30 June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Fitzroy district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2022.