Highfields goes wide

Work has started on the four-lane upgrade of the New England Highway at Highfields, 15km north of Toowoomba, Parliamentary Secretary for Main Roads, Andrew McNamara, and Attorney General and Member for Toowoomba North, Kerry Shine, said today.

“The $6.5 million project has been contracted to RoadTek Asset Services and completes the delivery of four lanes on the New England Highway from Toowoomba to the northern outskirts of Highfields.

”In a major plus for safety the 2.5 kilometre upgrade will separate north and southbound traffic as well as improve freight efficiency.”

Mr McNamara said the New England Highway would be widened to four lanes from Cawdor Road to Highfields Road and from Borghardt Road to Reis Road.

The work, to be finished by the end of the year, includes intersection upgrades at Dau Road, Ninderry Drive/Eclipse Court, Nichols Road, Timperley Drive, Littleton Drive and Reis Road.

Mr Shine said the project would substantially boost road capacity.

“Traffic volumes on this section of the highway have grown dramatically with more than 10 thousand vehicles a day including hundreds of trucks now using it.

“Motorists can look forward to a much safer road with dedicated slip lanes, turning lanes and a seal road shoulder,” Mr Shine said.

It’s the second phase of road duplication improvements on the New England Highway through Highfields. The first instalment from Highfields Road to Borghart Road was finished in July 2006 at a cost of $5.9 million.

The Beattie Government has allocated $33 million under the Rural and Regional Roads Funding Initiative to four-lane the New England Highway through Highfields and widen the road from Geham to Crows Nest.

Media Contact: Darren Roberts 3237 1947