A new milestone has been reached on the jointly funded $1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project in Queensland, with the release of the concept design prior to launching the next round of online community consultation this month.
“The latest round of consultation is an opportunity for the community to better understand the project and share their feedback.
“Due to COVID-19, face-to-face engagement with the public has been postponed, however sharing this information with the community if important to ensure we receive a wide range of feedback, which will inform the design,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said.
The Rockhampton Ring Road is set to improve road safety as well as boost freight efficiency, flood resilience and provide a strong link to major employment, leisure, tourism and residential growth areas in Rockhampton and its surrounding areas.
This billion-dollar project is going to be the largest road project in the State once construction commences and it is expected to support up to 800 jobs.
“We’ve already seen construction businesses open up new offices in the beef capital because they know not only is there plenty of work around now, there’ll be plenty more to come.
“It’s why the Queensland Government is delivering more than $14.5 billion in road projects across regional Queensland, creating more than 13,500 jobs,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.
The Rockhampton Ring Road will serve as a western link of the Bruce Highway that extends from the Capricorn Highway at Nelson Street in the south, then through to Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road/Bruce Highway intersection in the north. The ring road will also include a new crossing over the Fitzroy River.
“Taking trucks off suburban streets, reducing travel times, peak hour congestion and improving flood immunity on the Bruce Highway will make life a lot easier for locals and businesses.
“The Rockhampton Ring Road is key to keeping Central Queensland moving efficiently and ensuring the city continues contributing to the region’s economy,” Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said.
The region is home to over 5,000 businesses and the construction of this new ring road will keep businesses moving as well as pave the way for more jobs to be created in Central Queensland.
“The ring road will improve connectivity for our $4.8 billion economy. It’ll mean families and businesses can get to our airport, defence base, hospital, emergency services, educational facilities, and entertainment and industrial precincts,” State Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said.
Rockhampton Ring Road will not only provide a vital link into the city but will also improve connectivity to important facilities as well as service and precincts in the region, including the Capricorn Highway, West Rockhampton, Alexandra Street and Yaamba Road at Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road.
In addition, this project will be connecting with the Bruce Highway Upgrade north of Rockhampton which has already created more than 400 jobs.
“The Rockhampton Ring Road will solve one of the highway’s pinch points, eliminating the need for vehicles to navigate 19-sets of traffic signals through Rockhampton’s urban centre.
“I’m sure families, local businesses and the 2,600 daily truckies who drive through Rockhampton every day will welcome this upgrade,” State Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said.
The project website will remain open for comments until the end of June 2020.
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Source: Queensland Government; Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads; Big Rigs; Trailer Magazine; Roads & Infrastructure Australia
