Construction of the first phase of the Rockhampton Ring Road project, which includes $280 million in upgrades across location-based packages in the north and south of the project footprint, is on track to start in late 2023.
It’s part of a mammoth $1.065 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project, under the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program (BHUP), funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
Contracts have been awarded to Bielby-BMD Joint Venture and the Acciona-Fulton Hogan Joint Venture.
“Getting works started on this initial package has remained a priority, which is why we committed $80 million under the BHUP to ensure boots and machines are on the ground starting works this year,” said Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.
“The project forms part of the Australian and Queensland governments’ long-term partnership to upgrade the Bruce Highway, improving safety, flood resilience and capacity along the highway between Brisbane and Cairns.”
The northern package focuses on the ring road’s connection with the Bruce Highway at the Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road intersection in Parkhurst.
A new section of road and embankment will be constructed from the Bruce Highway west to Monier Road, on an alignment between the existing emergency services precinct and the Dreamtime Culture Centre.
New accesses will be constructed for the Dreamtime Cultural Centre, Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services precinct.
Upgrades to local roads that will ultimately connect with the ring road, including existing and realigned sections of Boundary Road, McLaughlin Street and Monier Road access, will also be delivered by the Bielby-BMD Joint Venture.
The southern package has two work locations in the West Rockhampton and Pink Lily area.
Upgrades on Rockhampton–Ridgelands Road will include Canoona Road intersection, the replacement of Lion Creek Bridge, modifications to Osbourne Road and construction of the Osbourne Road-Ridgelands Road roundabout with provision for future connection to the ring road.
The Rockhampton–Ridgelands Road and Nine Mile Road intersection will also be upgraded.
In addition, the southern package awarded to Acciona-Fulton Hogan Joint Venture will include pre-loading the ring road embankment just north of the connection with the Capricorn Highway, to accommodate the future Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline.
Construction on this phase is expected to be completed in the 2025–26 financial year.
“This achievement builds on early works underway since late 2022 to ready the road corridor alignment for construction,” added Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey.
The Rockhampton Ring Road will deliver 17.4 kilometres of new roadway incorporating 18 bridges and 14.7 kilometres of new alignment for the Bruce Highway to the west of Rockhampton.
According to State Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke, “The Rockhampton Ring Road is a transformational project for the Rockhampton region. The economic benefits of the planning and development phase, service relocations and early works is already evident with over 65 per cent of contracts in the plan and preserve phase awarded to local businesses, totalling over $17 million of local content.
“Service relocations for Ergon, Telstra, Optus and NBN are progressing, and gas service relocations are programmed to begin in mid to late 2023.
“Discussions are underway with government agencies and service providers to support local businesses to upskill their capabilities in readiness for future opportunities linked to the project.”
For more information on the project, click here.