Traffic can now access the Townsville Ring Road from Hervey Range Developmental and Shaw roads again, with the reopening of the entry and exit ramps.
The Ring Road’s southbound entry and exit ramps at Hervey Range Developmental Road reopened to traffic yesterday, June 1, with the southbound entry ramp at Shaw Road expected to open today.
The $280 million Townsville Ring Road – Stage 5 (TRR5) project involves a series of upgrades, including newly separated Ring Road carriageways for the entire length of the project.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King says the Townsville Ring Road project will deliver improved safety, efficiency and travel time reliability over 17,000 freight and passenger vehicles that travel the Bruce Highway through the city each day.
“It will also improve local connectivity to important employment precincts and essential services in Townsville, including Lavarack Barracks, James Cook University and Townsville University Hospital,” she said.
Traffic will remain single lane in each direction for several more months while final works are completed on the TRR5 project.
Temporary traffic measures including speed reductions, lanes closures and night works will occur along the Ring Road throughout June, as crews undertake asphalting works.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said these works are a significant milestone in the project. “Major construction works have been underway on the entry and exit ramps and sections of motorway between Shaw Road and Beck Drive since August 2022,” he said.
“We now have both the north and southbound carriageways open to traffic between Shaw Road and Vickers Bridge.
“As we progress towards the home straight for this major project, crews will continue working around the clock to complete construction works, including rehabilitation and asphalting works on the existing Ring Road.”
Works are also continuing on Beck Drive to install a new, signalised intersection at Gouldian Avenue.
All four lanes of the newly duplicated motorway will open to traffic when the Townsville Ring Road – Stage 5 project is completed later this year.
The Australian Government has committed $224 million and the Queensland Government $56 million toward the $280 million TRR5 project.