Toowoomba Second Range Crossing
| Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Queensland | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| TSRC tunnel site at the Main Range (Sep 2012), looking south from Mount Kynoch | |
| General information | |
| Type | Highway (Under construction) |
| Length | 41 km (25 mi) |
| Ring road around | Toowoomba |
| Major junctions | |
| Northeast end |
 Warrego Highway (National Highway A2), Helidon |
| |
| Southwest end |
  Gore Highway (National Highway A39 / State Route 85), Athol |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Postmans Ridge, Withcott, Mount Kynoch, Cranley, Charlton, Wellcamp |
| Highway system | |
|
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Queensland | |
The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) is a bypass route under construction north of Toowoomba. It is 41 kilometres (25 mi) long and will run to the north and west of the city. It will connect the Warrego Highway (in the east) at Helidon with the Warrego Highway (in the west) at Charlton and the Gore Highway at Athol. It aims to provide a second highway crossing of the Great Dividing Range as well as a bypass or partial ring road around the urban area of Toowoomba.[1]
Queensland Treasury estimated that the project cost would be $1.7 billion, creating 1,800 jobs over the 3 year construction period.[1]
It is expected to be a toll road for 25 years, with the price to be determined by the private sector operator [2]
Benefits
The Queensland Government claims the benefits include:[1]
- Overall significantly improve driver safety and ensure freight efficiencies
- Relieve traffic and pressure on roads through the urban area of Toowoomba
- Provide an alternative crossing of the Great Dividing Range, as the existing one is near capacity, has steep gradients and tight bends, and is subject to frequent road closures and significant delays
- Bypass 16 sets of traffic lights
- Reduce travel time across Toowoomba and the Great Dividing Range by 40 minutes
Route
The 43 kilometres (27 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),[3] 30 Bridges, 9 interchanges, 8 local road crossings, 9 Creek crossings, 4 viaducts.[4]
The reference design, the basis for planning and environmental approval, features:[5]
| 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 | 3 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
| Toowoomba Second Range Crossing | ||
| Northbound features | Distance from Warrego Hwy at Helidon | Southbound features |
| Warrego Highway, Helidon |
0 | Warrego Highway, Helidon |
| Murpheys Creek Road, Postmans Ridge | 3.8 | Murpheys Creek Road, Postmans Ridge |
| Gittens Road, Withcott | 8.7 | Gittens Road, Withcott |
| Tunnel (top of range) - Eastern Portal | 16.88 | Tunnel (top of range) - Eastern Portal |
| Tunnel (top of range) - Western Portal | 17.58 | Tunnel (top of range) - Western Portal |
Mort Street, Cranley New England Highway |
18.6 | Mort Street, Cranley New England Highway |
| Warrego Highway, Charlton |
27.75 | Warrego Highway, Charlton |
| Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road, Wellcamp | 31.6 | Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road, Wellcamp |
| Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport and industrial precinct | 35.5 | Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport and industrial precinct |
| Gore Highway, Athol - eastbound (flyover) |
40.95 | Gore Highway, Athol - eastbound (flyover) |
| Gore Highway, Athol - westbound (end of project) |
43 | Gore Highway, Athol - westbound (end of project) |
Construction
The Nexus consortium had been selected to finance, build, operate and maintain the project. The consortium includes the following participants: Plenary Group, Cintra Infraestructuras Internacional S.L., Acciona Concesiones S.L., Acciona Infrastructure Australia, Ferrovial Agroman Australia and Transfield Services (Australia).[6]
Milestones
- December 2007 - Pilot tunnel under the Main Range constructed using drill and blast methods. It enabled the collection of geological data and other information.[5]
- 31 January 2014 - Federal and state governments agreed to underwrite $1.7 billion to build a tunnel [7]
- 7 March 2014 - Registration Of Interest for Procurement Phase closes
- 4 June 2014 - Invitation for Expressions of Interest (EOI) released[5]
- 3 July 2015 - The Nexus consortium chosen to finance, build, operate and maintain the motorway.[3]
Timeline
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Queensland Treasury and Trade (28 January 2014). "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing - Project Fact Sheet" (PDF). Projects Queensland.
- ↑ Tony Moore (2014-01-31). "Toowoomba bypass worth $25 a trip, say truckies". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
- 1 2 Truss, Warren (3 July 2015). "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing preferred tenderer announced". Media Release (WT200/2015) (Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development). Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ Main Roads (2013-11-01). "EPBC Referral Form" (PDF). Technical information. The State of Queensland (Queensland Treasury and Trade). Retrieved 2014-01-31.
- 1 2 3 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 - Fact Sheet - July 2015" (PDF). Queensland Treasury. Queensland Government. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ Department of the Premier and Cabinet (31 January 2014). "Start for Toowoomba Second Range crossing project". Media Statements. The State of Queensland.
- 1 2 "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing". Queensland Treasury. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
External links
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