Overtaking lanes boost safety on Capricorn Coast roads

A $3.5 million safety project on Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road is progressing well, with stage one now open and work starting on stage two, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today.

Mr Lucas said a 500m extension of overtaking lanes between Mt Jim Crow and the Oaks had opened to traffic last week, and work had now started to extend a second set of overtaking lanes 11km east, at Bondoola.

"These lanes, between Rockhampton and Yeppoon, will provide safer overtaking opportunities and reduce travel times for motorists travelling between the two centres," said Mr Lucas.

"As everyone who uses the road regularly knows, there’s already an overtaking lane on the Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road at Bondoola.

“The new Yeppoon Western Bypass is planned to meet Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road at the existing overtaking lane. The work we started this week will move that existing overtaking lane about half a kilometre down the road.

"The extension at Bondoola, expected to be completed by January, will also improve safety for motorists entering and leaving the Yeppoon dump."

Member for Keppel, Paul Hoolihan, said the project was funded by the State Government's Safer Roads Sooner program, which aims to reduce the road toll by targeted road safety improvements.

“This road carries about 8600 vehicles per day, with traffic volumes expected to increase by 5% over the next five years,” Mr Hoolihan said.

“That clearly demonstrates the need for this work to be done, and I’m pleased that Main Roads is getting on with the job.”

Mr Lucas said Main Roads would again use the "IronMan" safety barrier system on the Bondoola work site to provide extra safety for construction crews, following its successful use on stage one.

“The "IronMan" safety barrier is stronger than traditional barriers, which lets traffic travel through the work site at 80km/h, instead of being reduced to 40km/h during construction,” Mr Lucas said.

“This keeps workers safer while keeping traffic flowing, and so reducing delays and inconvenience to motorists.”

During the construction period, motorists are asked to drive with caution for their own safety as well as that of road workers.

Mr Lucas said construction of the nearby $16 million Yeppoon Western Bypass was also continuing on schedule, and would alleviate congestion in the Yeppoon CBD by providing an alternative route for heavy commercial vehicles.

"In the past two months, construction crews have moved about 85,000 tonnes of rock during construction of the bypass," he said.

"By the time the bypass is open to traffic, about 550,000 tonnes of rock will be moved to provide gentle grades for the heavy vehicles that will use the bypass.

"Moving such a large volume of rock from the mountainous terrain is one of the most significant challenges for the $16 million project."

The Yeppoon Western Bypass is expected to be open by the middle of next year.

Media inquiries: 0417 767 436