Charlton to Kingsthorpe highway upgrade to start

• Contract awarded for the Warrego Highway Toowoomba to Oakey Duplication Stage 2 project
• Project will improve safety and highway capacity by separating opposing traffic, upgrading intersections and adding new turning lanes, as part of $635 million Warrego Highway – Toowoomba to Miles Upgrade Programme

Construction of the $160 million Warrego Highway Toowoomba to Oakey Duplication Stage 2 project between Charlton and Kingsthorpe will begin shortly, with civil construction company the Georgiou Group awarded the contract for the project.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the project was expected to take around 15 months to complete.

“This is the second stage of the Toowoomba to Oakey highway duplication and one of 15 projects funded under the critical Warrego Highway Upgrade Programme. These works will improve driver safety and highway capacity by separating opposing traffic, upgrading intersections and building new turning lanes,” Mr Chester said.

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said an average of 250 direct jobs would be supported over the life of the project.

“The project will ease congestion during peak times and make it safer to access the Warrego Highway from Gowrie Mountain and Kingsthorpe, while also providing more overtaking opportunities on the highway. An overpass of the Warrego Highway at the intersection with Kingsthorpe-Haden Road and Gowrie Mountain School Road will significantly improve road safety,” Mr Bailey said. 

Federal Member for Groom Dr John McVeigh said the project would upgrade a key link in regional Queensland’s economy.

“The Warrego Highway serves the agricultural heartland of the Darling Downs and the resource-rich Surat Basin, as well as being a major tourism route to outback Queensland. This is one of the growth corridors of the region and all projections point to a massive rise in road usage as new industries and neighbouring developments come online. The Federal Government is continuing to invest in enabling infrastructure for the region as we continue to grow,” Dr McVeigh said.

The existing highway will form the westbound lanes, with new eastbound lanes to be built on the northern side of the existing road. The lanes will be separated by a 15-metre-wide grassed median to separate traffic.

The project is funded on an 80:20 basis, with the Australian Government contributing up to $128 million and the Queensland Government contributing $32 million.

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell - 0428 079 640