Published Tuesday, 22 January, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
New bypass cuts trucks from Yeppoon’s Central Business District
Yeppoon’s newly completed $16 million Western Bypass should slash thousands of truck movements a year from the town’s Central Business District, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
Mr Pitt, who commissioned the vital new 18-kilometre road today, also praised the efforts of Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan who lobbied strongly for the road’s construction.
Mr Pitt said the bypass, to the west of Yeppoon's CBD, was expected to divert heavy vehicle traffic and commuters onto a faster route to and from Byfield and other areas north of Yeppoon.
"This road will cut up to 10 minutes off each trip for residents north of Yeppoon wishing to travel to Rockhampton and will provide more free-flowing traffic conditions in the central business district during weekdays," Mr Pitt said.
"It's a significant improvement for Yeppoon, and it delivers on a 2004 State Government election commitment that promised the bypass as the centrepiece of road improvements for the rapidly growing Capricorn Coast area.”
Mr Hoolihan said the bypass route catered for heavy vehicle traffic generated by the expanding agricultural and forestry industries north of Yeppoon, as well as providing a more efficient link to the proposed Yeppoon freight facility.
"More than 250,000 cubic metres of earthworks were involved in constructing the Neils Road section of the bypass, allowing heavy vehicles to now use the new route with ease," he said.
Mr Hoolihan said work had started on the bypass in July 2006 as part of the government's commitment to deliver the infrastructure required to build a better future for the Capricorn Coast.
"We have also spent $10 million upgrading Tanby Road and building the new Kinka Connection Road, which were completed in 2006,” he said.
“These projects have reduced the travel time between the two coastal centres of Yeppoon and Emu Park by 15 minutes.
"Another $3.5 million was spent building two new sets of overtaking lanes on the Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road in conjunction with the bypass construction."
Two other projects valued at $12.7 million, to improve safety on Adelaide Park Road and Woodbury Road, are continuing, with completion expected by the end of March this year.
“After these two projects are finalised, larger B-double trucks will be able to use the bypass, making for a more efficient transport network overall,” Mr Hoolihan said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Mr Hoolihan’s Office 4939 5732
Mr Pitt, who commissioned the vital new 18-kilometre road today, also praised the efforts of Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan who lobbied strongly for the road’s construction.
Mr Pitt said the bypass, to the west of Yeppoon's CBD, was expected to divert heavy vehicle traffic and commuters onto a faster route to and from Byfield and other areas north of Yeppoon.
"This road will cut up to 10 minutes off each trip for residents north of Yeppoon wishing to travel to Rockhampton and will provide more free-flowing traffic conditions in the central business district during weekdays," Mr Pitt said.
"It's a significant improvement for Yeppoon, and it delivers on a 2004 State Government election commitment that promised the bypass as the centrepiece of road improvements for the rapidly growing Capricorn Coast area.”
Mr Hoolihan said the bypass route catered for heavy vehicle traffic generated by the expanding agricultural and forestry industries north of Yeppoon, as well as providing a more efficient link to the proposed Yeppoon freight facility.
"More than 250,000 cubic metres of earthworks were involved in constructing the Neils Road section of the bypass, allowing heavy vehicles to now use the new route with ease," he said.
Mr Hoolihan said work had started on the bypass in July 2006 as part of the government's commitment to deliver the infrastructure required to build a better future for the Capricorn Coast.
"We have also spent $10 million upgrading Tanby Road and building the new Kinka Connection Road, which were completed in 2006,” he said.
“These projects have reduced the travel time between the two coastal centres of Yeppoon and Emu Park by 15 minutes.
"Another $3.5 million was spent building two new sets of overtaking lanes on the Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road in conjunction with the bypass construction."
Two other projects valued at $12.7 million, to improve safety on Adelaide Park Road and Woodbury Road, are continuing, with completion expected by the end of March this year.
“After these two projects are finalised, larger B-double trucks will be able to use the bypass, making for a more efficient transport network overall,” Mr Hoolihan said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Mr Hoolihan’s Office 4939 5732