Works have started on the Palaszczuk Government’s $7.5 million bikeway for Highfields and Toowoomba.
Crews are off racing on the first stage of the two-lane, three metre-wide path, supporting more than 20 jobs.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said bike riders currently have to navigate the New England Highway to reach either destination.
Separating bike and vehicle traffic, the project will boost safety, especially for the local school community, and aims to get more students riding to school on their bike or scooter.
“As we saw with the Toowoomba Bypass, locals want less congestion and more jobs. Project like this, are creating jobs in construction and promoting different ways to travel, that doesn’t involve hopping in the car,” Mr Bailey said.
It’s part of the government’s wider $219 million commitment to bike infrastructure across Queensland.
“Not only do projects like this encourage people to ride their bikes, they also inject $5 into the local economy for every dollar spent.”
Toowoomba Christian College Principal Richard Brown said their students were excitedly preparing for the new bikeway.
“We currently have only a handful of students who ride to school but have already seen an encouraging amount say they will take up riding once the construction is completed,” Mr Brown said.
“I’m sure there’ll be quite a few bikes and scooters on Christmas lists in Highfields this year.”
Toowoomba Region Bicycle Users Group (TRBUG) has been involved in planning discussions with Transport and Main Roads officials on this project from its earliest days.
“Our members are very happy to have been involved in this project and are particularly pleased to see the earthworks have started,” TRBUG’s Hugh Wilson said.
“TRBUG members regularly ride to Highfields and back via Gowrie Junction, so we look forward to the full route to Highfields being completed.
“When finished, the possibility to commute from Highfields to Toowoomba, fully off road, will become a real alternative for many Highfields residents, particularly now e-bikes are becoming a major part of Toowoomba’s cycling activity.
“TRBUG congratulates the Transport and Main Roads staff involved in the project and the Minister for his enthusiastic support for the new route.”
Bicycle Queensland spokesperson Andrew Demack said that bikeways were a great investment in making active transport available to everyone.
“This bikeway will be suitable for ages 8 to 80. Highfields residents can choose for themselves whether they are active … it’s still up to each one of us to fit 30 minutes of daily exercise into our lives.
“The great thing about using a bike – or an e-bike – for transport is that you get to your destination AND you’ve overcome your own personal physical inactivity problem,” Demack said.
“Let’s keep building liveable, active, connected communities across Queensland.”
