Milestone of 8 Mile

The Eight Mile intersection, where the Cunningham and New England Highways meet, is being uplifted to make it safer for Queensland locals.

The $25 million project will see an overpass for motorists travelling south on the New England Highway from Toowoomba to Warwick, while traffic on the Cunningham Highway will travel underneath the overpass.

A major milestone was recently achieved with super-T girders recently installed for an overpass over the Cunningham Highway.

To minimise traffic disruptions, crews worked through the night for a week with a 500-tonne, wheel track crane to position 10 super-T girders forming the overpass deck.

Each girder weighs between 75 and 85 tonnes and measure over 1.8 metres high and 33 metres long.

Permanent height restrictions are now in place for traffic travelling on the Cunningham Highway through the intersection.

Eastbound traffic is restricted to 6.1m and westbound traffic is restricted to 7.1m.

The major upgrade is expected to be completed later this year (2022), weather and construction conditions permitting.

The project is jointly funded on an 80:20 basis with the Australian Government contributing $20 million and the Queensland Government contributing $5 million.

For more information, visit https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/cunningham-highway-ipswich-warwick-eight-mile-intersection-upgrade.

For up-to-date information on roadworks and conditions across the state, visit www.qldtraffic.qld.gov.au, call 13 19 40, or download the QldTraffic app

Quotes attributable to Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey:

“The Palaszczuk Government continues to deliver for the Darling Downs through our record road and transport plan, with more than $660 million in infrastructure being delivered for the region.

“Through this plan, we want to see all Queenslanders get home safer and sooner.

“What’s better is we’re supporting about 50 local jobs during this time as we continue to build stronger, more resilient Queensland roads.

“We know how important this upgrade is for regular users of this intersection, which is well used by locals, the frieght industry and tourists alike.

“It’s dangerous when we have two high speed highways intersecting, which something that will now be removed by the construction of overpass.

“It was a mammoth effort for crews to complete this important work in the middle of recent La Nina weather but we are progressing well towards being complete in the coming months.

“Well done to the team for their work and I look forward to seeing the new overpass open to traffic.”

ENDS

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Images available here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Joseph Ogilvie - 0423 184 412