Hirvam.it

Anyway this week The study team has selected their Hybrid Alignment (shown below) as their preference to submit to Main Roads. This decision will now be scrutinised during three months of public consultation.


The Hybrid Alignment maintains the bulk of the current Bruce Highway alignment largely unchanged for local access to the corridor and creates a new separate highway and arterial capacity within a new corridor seaward of the existing railway line providing two freeway standard entrances to Rocky Springs and a further interchange to service likely growth in the Whites Plains area.

This alignment is a departure from the original three broad options and provides an extension of thinking around the separate alignment. This alignment allows the current highway to remain largely unchanged to serve local traffic needs (including bicycle, pedestrian and public transport) with the bulk of traffic redirected onto new freeway standard roads.

The initial section of the preferred alignment between the intersection of the Bruce and Flinders Highways and Vantassel Street has previously undergone significant detailed planning and consultation through projects including the:

Townsville Port Access Road
Stuart Bypass
Abbott Street Deviation.
This existing planning has been accepted and integrated into these plans.

Notable features of the ultimate configuration of this section include:

Design capacity of minimum 80,000 vehicle per day (vpd) ultimately with three freeway standard lanes in each direction (six in total).
Ultimate configuration to utilise grade separated interchanges and divided carriageway to allow continuous 100 km/hour operation and a seamless integration into the broader Townsville Ring Road network to provide an unimpeded high speed link through the city of Townsville.
Ultimate redevelopment of the Flinders Highway intersection into a grade separated interchange.
Deviation of the existing Abbott Street to Lakeside Drive link, incorporating grade separated interchanges and roundabouts to service both Fairfield Waters and the Townsville Turf Club.
Overpass of the Queensland Rail tracks at Jurekey Street.
Closure of existing Jurekey Street and Abbott Street intersections with local traffic access via a new roadway linking Lakeside Drive with Racecourse Road and Jurekey Street. Rail and highway crossings ultimately grade separated.
New Bruce Highway alignment closely following current alignment to Hunter Street and beyond, taking into consideration improved flood immunity and greater corner radius.
Closure of current access to Heleen Downs Station and Townsville Enterprise Limited Information Centre with alternate access to be provided via a service road network linking elements of the Townsville State Development Area.
Ultimate grade separated interchange with Townsville Port Access Road.
Closure of current Hunter Street and Zinc Avenue/Vantassel Street intersections with alternate access via a service road network linking elements of the Townsville State Development Area.

Recent Article in Saturdays Townsville Bulletin.

[/QUOTE]

Hirvam.it

Construction is underway on the final stage of the North Ward Road Upgrade, known as Package C. During this final stage of the works, North Ward Road will be upgraded to four lanes between Walker and Gregory Street. Key highlights of the project include:

A roundabout to improve traffic flow and safety at the Oxley and Eyre Streets intersection.
A new car park will be built on the existing alignment of Eyre Street. This will provide more car parks in this area than currently available.
Footpaths and bicycle lanes will be provided for throughout the project.
Mitchell and Fryer Streets will be cul-de-saced, with one-way entry.
The roundabout, median, new car park and footpaths will be fully landscaped.
This project is expected to be complete by mid 2009.

A huge map that includes the rehiblated Oxley street can be found on this: Link





Link to the whole development.

Hirvam.it

Told ya it sticked out like dog balls! ****in huge.

There also halfway through installing ITS (Information Technology Systems)

including Surveillance cameras on the motorway and Variable Message Signs (VMS)

on Hervey's range road and University Drive. Excellent.

Link for December Update.

Hirvam.it

Stuart Bypass (section one)

Construction Update: http://www.ebc.net.au/tpar/Stuart%20...ec%202008).pdf


Render
(Below) An artist's impression of the rail overpass near Brookhouse Street.


The Stuart Bypass will reduce the number of heavy vehicles currently travelling along Stuart Drive, thereby improving road safety and the quality of life for residents of Stuart and Wulguru. It will also provide improved access to the existing industrial area around Burdell Street and the Queensland Rail yards in Stuart. The project was originally budgeted to provide the bypass element alone. However, through extensive community consultation and further design work, elements were subsequently added that were not included in the original budget. This has resulted in the need to stage the construction.

What will be done in each stage?

• Stage One Bypass features
• High-level rail overpass with concrete noise barriers
• New T-intersection and industrial estate service road near Burdell Street
• A new bridge over Stuart Creek
• Improved visibility at McCahill Street
• Grass and shrub landscaping
• Street lighting
• Wider shoulders for turning off Stuart Drive

Map of Stage one (Currently Under Construction)


Ultimate Bypass features

• Stuart Drive Service Road
• Traffic lights and pedestrian crossing at Southwood Road and Stuart Drive intersection
• Upgraded rail crossing at Southwood Road
• Re-designed car parking at Stuart shops
• Further landscaping, walkways and lighting
• McCahill Street upgrade

Eastern Access Corridor (Stage two)

The Eastern Access Corridor will improve safety and amenity issues associated with the current use of the Boundary and Perkins Streets to access the Port of Townsville as well as providing secure and cost efficient freight transport to the port.

Eastern Access Corridor route (stage 1 alignment road in yellow and future rail in blue)

Hirvam.it

Townsville's Eastern Corridor Under Construction (Stage one)

Layout one:



Stuart Bypass (McCahill Street to Southwood Road)



Elevational view (Overpass spans 130m!):




Road study costs $700k

June 29th, 2009 l Townsville Bulletin

THE State Government will spend $700,000 on a study to develop a funding application for the upgrade of a notorious Townsville intersection.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace revealed the figure yesterday at the announcement of two options for the 'future upgrade' of the Dalrymple Road, Banfield Drive and Angus Avenue intersection in Heatley.

Mr Wallace defended the spend, despite the Queensland Government moving to sell off State-owned assets in an effort to reduce its burgeoning debt.

"Examining options for upgrading the intersection and working up the cost estimates is a complex and lengthy process," Mr Wallace said.

"It's important we get this right."

The options are an overpass - which will involve the construction of a four-lane bridge - to take through-traffic on Dalrymple Road, or the replacement of the existing roundabout with a fully signalised intersection.

Mr Wallace said the upgrade of the intersection, used by 32,000 vehicles a day, was vital to the continued growth of the city and the safety of motorists.

The public has been invited to provide feedback on the proposed upgrade.

"This will be a much needed upgrade for a very busy intersection that is only going to get busier in coming years," he said.

"However, we also need substantial community opinion if we are to develop this upgrade to meet the community's expectations."

He said the feedback would be incorporated into the $700,000 planning study to develop a funding application for the project.

It is understood that the first round of public consultation will conclude in August, with the upgrade option to be finalised by the end of the year.

"The project team has injected a lot of time into developing and fine-tuning ideas before presenting these two excellent options to the community for consideration," he said.

"Once we receive funding approval, the design can be finalised, the next round of community consultation can begin and we can commit to a start date for construction.

"So the sooner the public can tell us of their preference, the sooner we can move forward."

A public display of both the overpass and the signalised intersection will be held at the Heatley Secondary College Multimedia Centre on July 3 and 4 from 9am to 4pm.

- ANDREW STRUTTON