The western section of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) has opened to traffic for the first time, marking a major milestone for one of the state’s largest infrastructure projects and for Queensland’s largest inland city.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Infrastructure Minister Michael McCormack said the completion of work on the western section of the project meant motorists could enjoy a new drive between Cranley and the Gore Highway before Christmas.
"This is fantastic news for residents and visitors to the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley regions," Mr McCormack said.
"People now have an opportunity to see the results of the hard work and skilled engineering that has supported the delivery of this world-class road project.
"There is still more work to do on the eastern section at Ballard throughout the first half of 2019, but when that is finished we will see a 41-kilometre-long toll road that passes Toowoomba’s northern side, linking the Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa in the east and the Gore Highway at Athol in the west."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the partial opening of the $1.6 billion project was an historic day for Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley region.
"Toowoomba residents have been looking forward to this project for decades and it was certainly the talk of the town when I was there recently as part of our Governing from the Regions program," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"To know we’re on the cusp of finally delivering it for the people of Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley is something we should all celebrate.
"Toowoomba is an important contributor to our state’s economy and is a growing city. This bypass is critical to supporting its ambitions to become Australia’s most innovative and productive rural city."
Federal Member for Groom Dr John McVeigh said today’s partial opening in Cranley was a historic day for everyone from all levels of government who had contributed to the project over the years.
"We have been involved in planning, and now delivering, an alternate cross of the Toowoomba range for more than 20 years," Dr McVeigh said.
"The partial opening will provide new connections between Toowoomba’s Central Business District, Warrego Highway at Charlton, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road - for access to Wellcamp Airport - and the Gore Highway.
"The opened section of TSRC between Charlton and Cranley provides a new connection for cars and light commercial vehicles between the logistics hub at Charlton and the CBD, via Mort Street.
"This section is also a B-double route, providing access from Charlton to the New England Highway for travel north from Toowoomba."
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the once-in-a-generation project for the region would deliver economic benefits over decades to come.
"The Second Range Crossing is projected to contribute more than $2.4 billion in economic and productivity gains for Toowoomba businesses and industry over the next 30 years," Mr Bailey said.
"Local participation from the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley region on the project was measured at just over 80 per cent in the total dollar value of contracts with up to 1800 direct and indirect jobs forecast to be created during construction, operation and maintenance stages of the project
"The local economic benefits are clear, but the wider freight industry also stands to gain from this visionary project.
"We look forward to celebrating the full road completion with a fantastic community event mid-next year."
Mr Bailey said the TSRC provides access to the newly opened truck stop and decoupling pad on Nass Road at Charlton through traffic signals installed at the Warrego Highway-Nass Road intersection.
"This will enable operators to reconfigure vehicles on the pad before travelling east of Charlton, check their loads and take a break," he said.
Nexus Infrastructure Chairman John Witheriff said the opportunity to showcase the new road was just a small taste of things to come when the spectacular eastern range section through to Helidon Spa opens.
"The newly opened section highlights some of the value-adding options in the design that meant Nexus could provide a higher standard of road for the available funding," Mr Witheriff said.
"As part of our tender, we included grade-separated interchanges so there could be uninterrupted through movements at the Warrego Highway western interchange at Charlton, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road and Gore Highway."
Mr Witheriff said other features of Nexus’ design included four lanes (two each way) from Helidon Spa to Charlton.
Tolls will be announced closer to the opening of the whole road, with the toll gantry to be located east of the newly opened section.
