- Major construction is well underway on the much-needed Townsville Connection Road – University Road to Bowen Road Bridge project.
- With 24,000 vehicles travelling through this area every day, this project will achieve much needed efficiency benefits, and reduce congestion and travel time on Stuart Drive for the community.
Large scale works have begun on the Stuart Drive duplication project in Townsville, which will achieve much needed efficiency benefits, and reduce congestion and travel time for the 24,000 vehicles travelling through this area every day.
This work means the roundabout and approaches have transitioned to a temporary alignment to maintain traffic flow while a new signalised intersection is constructed.
This traffic switch is a key milestone for the project, and will see improved safety, network efficiency, accessibility, and capacity for all road users as well as safety upgrades for pedestrians and bike riders, including wider paths, better connections, and safer crossings.
Construction is due to be completed by mid-2025, weather and construction conditions permitting.
The Townsville Connection Road upgrade will deliver for the community:
- An upgrade to Stuart Drive from two to four lanes, between University Road and Bowen Road Bridge.
- A signalised intersection to replace the roundabout at the Townsville Connection Road and Mervyn Crossman Drive/Fairfield Waters Drive intersection (currently underway).
- Signalisation to the Gartrell Drive and Kokoda Street intersections to allow safer side street access.
- Safety upgrades for pedestrians and bike riders, including wider paths, better connections, and safer crossings.
- Improved traffic flow and safety for motorists, as well as safer crossing and better connections to services for school children and users of the surrounding sporting and shopping precincts.
This project was fully funded by the Miles Government and is estimated to provide 90 new, local jobs.
TMR has consulted with local business, schools and sporting clubs to design and deliver this project since 2015.
Access to Stuart Drive and connecting roads will be maintained throughout the duration of the project with traffic management in place.
TMR encourages road users to plan their journey and allow extra time to arrive safely at their intended destination.
$99.8 million has also been committed to duplicate Bowen Road Bridge, which is the last remaining bottleneck on this section of the state-controlled road.
Quotes attributable to the Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish:
“We’re very excited to see this election commitment delivered, I know just how hard our local members have campaigned for the project, and how needed it is for locals.
“In the past, school children have taken risks crossing this busy road; it is essential this project is delivered to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.
“A new shared pathway will also be built as part of the project to allow a better connection for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The department will be working to keep as many trees as possible throughout construction. The revegetation process will see 138 new shade trees planted, with an additional 12 twelve trees planted near the access entry to the new cycling pathway.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Mundingburra Les Walker:
“I fought hard to deliver this project and to make sure it expanded and included better access for pedestrians and cyclists, it to make it safer and better for all road users.
“This was a key election commitment and I’m so excited to be turning the sod on this project.
“Anyone living in the area knows Stuart Drive can get busy, particularly at school drop off times and when there is sport being played nearby.
“These upgrades mean better accessibility for road users and help increase safety for everyone.
“This is another example of the Miles Government keeping Queenslanders safe on our roads.”
“Townsville will miss out on road upgrades if the LNP is in government because the only thing they was cut $1.6 billion funding from road and transport projects.
“We saw them waste $100 million trying to sell our public assets like the Townsville Port and sack 20 per cent of TMR staff and 700 RoadTek road builders – that’s what their record is.”
“At the 2020 election, the LNP showed what they thought of Townsville when it committed just $5 million to this project.”
