Infrastructure minister turns soil with bypass building to begin in April
The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) has moved a step further towards reality after the federal infrastructure minister Warren Truss turned the first sod today.
Jointly funded by the federal and Queensland governments, the 41km road will run from the Warrego Highway at Helidon to the Gore Highway at Athol, allowing vehicles to bypass Toowoomba.
The east-west route will travel north of the town via Charlton, Truss says, easing local congestion.
“When finished, it will create an alternative crossing of the Toowoomba Range for commercial vehicles and improve driver safety,” he says.
“It will also relieve pressure on Toowoomba’s local roads and enhance liveability for residents, eliminating the need for heavy vehicles to negotiate 18 sets of traffic lights in Toowoomba, saving them up to 40 minutes each way.
“By improving links between the region, key markets and the Port of Brisbane, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will increase regional economic activity by an estimated $2.4 billion over the next 30 years.”
Federal member for Groom Ian Macfarlane says local residents will be glad to see construction start after 20 years of discussion.
“This is the kind of world-class infrastructure needed to facilitate the next phase of development in South West Queensland, improve the efficiency of freight movements and encourage other economic development,” Macfarlane says.
A project that has long been debated, and stalled by financial differences, the TSRC was first predicted by Truss to begin construction by mid-2015; however it appears April next year will be the date.
Construction is expected to finish towards the end of 2018.