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All eyes on $1b Rocky Ring Road as concepts unveiled
Rockhampton has been given its first glimpse at the $1 billion ring road project.
The Queensland and Australian governments today unveiled animated flyovers for the 17 km project, which will improve travel times for 35,000 daily drivers and features a new Fitzroy River crossing.
It comes as the next round of consultation launches online this month, releasing the concept design for this major infrastructure project to the community.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the concept design for the Rockhampton Ring Road had now been finalised.
“The latest round of consultation is an opportunity for the community to better understand the project and share their feedback,” Mr McCormack said.
“Due to COVID-19, face-to-face engagement with the public has been postponed, however sharing this information with the community is important to ensure we receive a wide range of feedback, which will inform the design.
“The Rockhampton Ring Road is key to keeping Central Queensland moving efficiently and ensuring the city continues contributing to the region’s economic growth.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, who recently inspected major road upgrades in Rockhampton, said it would be the largest road project in Queensland once shovels hit the ground, supporting close 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,” Mr Bailey said.
“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.”
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the Rockhampton Ring Road project would enhance the capacity, safety and accessibility of the road network in Rockhampton.
“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,” Mrs Landry said.
“The Rockhampton Ring Road is key to keeping Central Queensland moving efficiently and ensuring the city continues contributing to the region’s economic growth.”
State Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said with more than 5,000 businesses calling the region home, the ring road would keep businesses moving and pave the way for more jobs 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,” Mr O’Rourke said.
The road will provide a western link of the Bruce Highway extending from the Capricorn Highway (Nelson Street) in the south, through to Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road/Bruce Highway intersection in the north.
“It will also create better connections between Gracemere and Parkhurst, improve access to the Capricorn Coast in the east, and link our crucial resource and agriculture sectors to the west.”
State Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the ring road would connect with the $157 million Bruce Highway upgrade north of Rockhampton, which has already created more than 400 jobs for the region.
“The Rockhampton Ring Road will solve one of the highway’s last pinch points, eliminating the need for vehicles to navigate 19-sets of traffic signals through Rockhampton’s urban centre,” Ms Lauga said.
“I’m sure families, local businesses and the 2,600 daily truckies who drive through Rockhampton every day will welcome this upgrade.”
Mr O’Rourke and Ms Lauga encouraged the community to participate in the online engagement, where the newly released concept design can be viewed and feedback can be provided.
The website will be open for comment until the end of June, 2020.
To view the vision or for more information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/rockhamptonringroad
END OF MEDIA RELEASE
About Rockhampton Ring Road
The Rockhampton Ring Road will provide a western link of the Bruce Highway extending from the Capricorn Highway (Nelson Street) in the south, through to Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road/Bruce Highway intersection in the north and will include a new crossing of the Fitzroy River.
It will provide key links into the city and will improve connectivity to important facilities, services and precincts within Rockhampton such as:
- Capricorn Highway: Gracemere CBD and residential growth area, Gracemere industrial area, and resource and agriculture sectors to the west.
- West Rockhampton: Rockhampton airport, hospital, and Rockhampton CBD and Riverbank, Rockhampton Defence depot, emergency services, education, sporting and leisure facilities.
- Alexandra Street: Parkhurst industrial area and residential growth area, retail precinct and North Rockhampton CBD.
- Yaamba Road (at Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road): CQUniversity, emergency services, Capricorn Coast and tourism.
The Rockhampton Ring Road will improve access to the city via the Bruce Highway and significantly reduce congestion by providing an alternative route for heavy vehicles, enhancing the overall safety and amenity of the urban centre.
The Rockhampton Ring Road will integrate with major infrastructure already completed, including Yeppen North and Yeppen South, as well as projects currently under construction, including Capricorn Highway – Rockhampton to Gracemere Duplication and Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade.
View concept design visualisation
Project timeline
- February 2018: project started
- November 2018-January 2019: $1 billion funding committed to the project. Australian Government committed $800 million to this project. Queensland Government committed $200 million
- Mid 2019: Preliminary Evaluation completed. Start Detailed Business Case
- Late 2019-Early 2020: community engagement opportunities online
- May 2020 – Concept design released
- Late 2020: Detailed Business Case completed
- Late 2020-2021: Detailed Design phase
- 2021: proposed construction early works
- Late 2021: proposed construction tendering
- 2022-2026: proposed construction
Source: Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads
Media Release – 15th of May 2020
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