A further $20 million has been committed to the Cunningham Highway, however the extra funding will be used for ‘detailed planning’ rather than actual upgrades.
The Australian Government is providing $16 million and the Queensland Government will commit the remaining $4 million.
It will be used to undertake businesses cases on the Ipswich-Rosewood Road (Amberley) intersection, and the Ripley Road and Swanbank Road interchanges.
The Ipswich-Rosewood Road (Amberley) intersection planning will investigate options for a long-term solution at the intersection, including grade separation, a bypass or duplication of the highway.
It will also take community feedback into consideration, which was received during the consultation process.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King commented, “Our aim is to identify and implement a way to improve safety and efficiency for both local residents and freight vehicles.
“So much work goes into detailed planning for an upgrade of this calibre, and we want to ensure the design options reflect the needs of the community.”
The Ipswich-Rosewood Road (Amberley) intersection is a key connection for freight and the local community. It also acts as the main access point to Australia’s largest operational military air base, the Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley.
This project is part of the Australian Government’s broader $170 million investment in the Cunningham Highway.