Yeppen South project complete and open to traffic

The $170 million Yeppen South project is now open to traffic, providing a duplicated Bruce Highway and high-level floodplain crossing on the southern approach to Rockhampton.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the highly anticipated project was a significant boost to motorists and the community.

“By duplicating this section of the Bruce Highway we have doubled the capacity of the road south of Rockhampton, reducing travel times for freight operators and other drivers,” Mr Truss said.

“The upgrade also includes a high-level floodplain crossing on the southern approach to the city, ensuring freight traffic continues to move efficiently even during wet weather.”

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the Yeppen South project has been designed and constructed to remain open to traffic even during a 1 in 100 year flood event.

“The two new bridges are supported by more than 1200 reinforced concrete piles which are set as deep as 26 metres into the Yeppen floodplain,” Mr Bailey said.

“More than 200 jobs have been supported throughout the project with flow on benefits for the local economy and motorists will also benefit from improved road safety as result of the upgrade.”

Member for Rockhampton Bill Byrne said motorists will see immediate improvements in traffic flow and safety.

“There is no doubt that the completion of the $170 million Yeppen South project is a milestone event for the broader Central Queensland region and coming less than two years after the Yeppen North project was completed,” Mr Byrne said.

“The southern entrance to Rockhampton has been cut off by severe weather in recent times and this project essentially flood-proofs this section of the Bruce Highway.

“Central Queensland is the big winner with jobs, infrastructure and road safety improvements right across the region.”

The project is expected to be commissioned in early December 2015 and has been a jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing $136 million and the Queensland Government $34 million.

ENDS

Media Contacts:       For Mr Truss : Brett Heffernan      02 6277 7680 

                                 For Mr Bailey : Alex Chamberlain  07 3719 7316