Progress continues on $230m QLD Townsville Ring Road Stage 5

The Townsville Ring Road development in Queensland is progressing well as four new bridges and overpasses take shape as part of the $230 million Stage 5 project. 

The multi-million-dollar project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis. 

As works are ramping up, the project is already delivering significant benefits to the region with the project team prioritising using materials as well as engaging with suppliers from the Townsville area. 

“The TRR5 (Townsville Ring Road Stage 5) project will provide long-term improvements to traffic flow and road safety on the Bruce Highway in Townsville. 

“This upgrade is about ensuring the Bruce Highway can meet the strategic transport needs of the Townsville region well into the future. 

“When the upgrade is completed, these passenger and freight vehicles will benefit from improved efficiency and safety, reduced travel times and better access to the region,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said. 

Project alignment (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

To date, more than 200,000 tonnes of material have been delivered for the new carriageway and bridge approaches on the Bruce Highway. 

Over the first six months of work, great progress was seen on the project as piling works were completed on two of the four bridges. 

Following the short break over the Christmas holidays, works have ramped up and crews are pushing ahead with construction of road and bridges along the six-kilometre alignment of the Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 project. 

“The project will duplicate the Ring Road between Vickers Bridge and Shaw Road to four lanes and install new bridges and overpasses at the Bohle and Little Bohle Rivers, and at Beck Drive and Hervey Range Development Road. 

“The end result will be improved safety and efficiency for road users, and better access between the Upper Ross and the Ring Road, especially for locals heading to and from key employment areas such as the hospital and university,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

The Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 project will include: 

• Duplication of a six-kilometre, two-lane section of the Ring Road between Vickers Bridge and Shaw Road to four lanes 
• Duplication of bridges over Bohle and Little Bohle rivers 
• Duplication of overpass bridges at Beck Drive and Hervey Range Developmental Road 
• A new interchange at Beck Drive, catering for all directions of travel and providing better connections between the Townsville Ring Road and the Upper Ross area 
• Changes to the existing Riverway Drive interchange to ensure its safe operation with the new Beck Drive interchange, including removal of the eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp 
• Installation of drainage for flood mitigation 
• Installation of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) 
• Noise mitigation measures 
• Environmental considerations 
• Upgrades to the surrounding local road network, including signalisation of the Beck Drive and Gouldian Avenue intersection 
• Active transport facilities including new and upgraded shared pathways for pedestrians and bike riders 

“There’s nothing more important when it comes to our roads than safety, the Brice Highway is the busiest and most critical road in Queensland. 

“That is why the Australian Government is investing 80% of the cost of this project – that’s $184 million – as part of our $10 billion 15-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Program to improve road safety, capacity and flood resilience between Brisbane and Cairns,” Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said. 

In addition to delivering the road infrastructure Queenslanders need, the project will also provide significant benefits to local contractors and suppliers. Currently, there are 39 local businesses that have been engaged to provide works on the Ring Road upgrade – about 80 per cent of the budget spent on local suppliers and contractors. 

“That’s more than $40 million that has been injected into Townsville and the surrounding region, benefiting local companies employing local workers. 

“We’ll see these economic benefits continue to flow through the community as works continue throughout 2022 and into 2023. 

“A big thank you goes out to my community for their support and patience while crews undertake these major upgrade works,” Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said. 

The Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 project is due to be completed in 2023. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Infrastructure Magazine; Inside Construction