Published Thursday, 21 February, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Motorists and industry benefit from upgraded highways
The $91 million upgrade of Dawson Highway between Calliope and Banana has brought significant benefits to Central Queensland, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
Mr Pitt, who visited the region to commission the road today, said the upgrade, delivered six months ahead of schedule and under budget, involved widening and strengthening 71km of the highway.
"The upgrade was delivered in record time under the Accelerated Road Rehabilitation Program (ARRP),” Mr Pitt said.
“A project of this scope usually takes up to 15 years but by packaging individual projects into one program and working with private sector operators as an alliance, we were able to complete the work in just over a year.”
Mr Pitt said the 71km of highway was much wider and offered a smoother ride with better visibility at approaches to intersections and private driveways.
Twelve timber bridges were also replaced with new concrete structures as part of the works.
“The bridges are wider, with a design life of 100 years, and have improved the road alignment and access during wet periods,” he said.
“The project has significantly improved safety and driving conditions on this vital link that connects the towns of Gladstone and Moura.
“The improved flood immunity and reduced travel times, means significant cost savings for heavy industry that access the Gladstone Port, Callide to Dawson mines and the primary producers of Central Western Queensland.”
Mr Pitt said the upgraded highway was one of the largest and most successful projects completed in Central Queensland and showed what could be achieved with an alliance approach.
“Main Roads worked with Ostwald Bros, John Wilson and Partners and Canstruct as part of the project alliance,” he said.
“By forming an alliance we were able to fast-track works by making better use of resources and combining our areas of expertise.
"At the peak of construction, crews were completing more than three kilometres of new highway each week.”
Mr Pitt said due to the works progressing ahead of schedule on the Dawson Highway, alliance crews were able to turn their attention to the Leichhardt Highway, south of Theodore.
“The extra work on the Leichhardt Highway wasn’t part of the project initially, but was added to the scope of works because of the excellent progress made on the Dawson Highway,” he said.
"The new Leichhardt Highway has a standard nine-metre bitumen seal with sealed shoulders, providing ample room for the 50,000 heavy vehicles that use the highway each year.
"The work also involved the provision of eight new vehicle pull-over areas, as part of Main Roads’ driver fatigue management campaign.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Mr Pitt, who visited the region to commission the road today, said the upgrade, delivered six months ahead of schedule and under budget, involved widening and strengthening 71km of the highway.
"The upgrade was delivered in record time under the Accelerated Road Rehabilitation Program (ARRP),” Mr Pitt said.
“A project of this scope usually takes up to 15 years but by packaging individual projects into one program and working with private sector operators as an alliance, we were able to complete the work in just over a year.”
Mr Pitt said the 71km of highway was much wider and offered a smoother ride with better visibility at approaches to intersections and private driveways.
Twelve timber bridges were also replaced with new concrete structures as part of the works.
“The bridges are wider, with a design life of 100 years, and have improved the road alignment and access during wet periods,” he said.
“The project has significantly improved safety and driving conditions on this vital link that connects the towns of Gladstone and Moura.
“The improved flood immunity and reduced travel times, means significant cost savings for heavy industry that access the Gladstone Port, Callide to Dawson mines and the primary producers of Central Western Queensland.”
Mr Pitt said the upgraded highway was one of the largest and most successful projects completed in Central Queensland and showed what could be achieved with an alliance approach.
“Main Roads worked with Ostwald Bros, John Wilson and Partners and Canstruct as part of the project alliance,” he said.
“By forming an alliance we were able to fast-track works by making better use of resources and combining our areas of expertise.
"At the peak of construction, crews were completing more than three kilometres of new highway each week.”
Mr Pitt said due to the works progressing ahead of schedule on the Dawson Highway, alliance crews were able to turn their attention to the Leichhardt Highway, south of Theodore.
“The extra work on the Leichhardt Highway wasn’t part of the project initially, but was added to the scope of works because of the excellent progress made on the Dawson Highway,” he said.
"The new Leichhardt Highway has a standard nine-metre bitumen seal with sealed shoulders, providing ample room for the 50,000 heavy vehicles that use the highway each year.
"The work also involved the provision of eight new vehicle pull-over areas, as part of Main Roads’ driver fatigue management campaign.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819