There’s plenty of roadworks happening in the next week as Australian states and territories prepare for a heavy month of updates before the holiday period.
This week’s Friday Road Update from OwnerDriver takes you from a new Western Australian bridge set to open, new Victorian road contracts and a variety of road condition changes on major Queensland and New South Wales freight routes.
Western Australia
New Kimberley bridge to open to traffic
From November 13, the new Brooking Channel Bridge in WA’s Kimberley Regional will be open to traffic following a $107 million project to replace an ageing single-lane bridge with a stronger dual-lane structure.
The works aim to strengthen the Great Northern Highway’s resilience after it was critically damaged in flooding following ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie in late 2022 and early 2023.
While the Brooking Channel Bridge wasn’t destroyed, it remained a 100m single-lane bottleneck with limited survival capacity in future major flood events.
Located just outside the town of Fitzroy Crossing, the new 127m bridge features two lanes and is capable of supporting large loads including road trains and heavy goods vehicles.
“The New Brooking Channel Bridge is an important addition to Great Northern Highway building a more resilient supply chain in the northwest of Western Australia,” federal transport minister Catherine King says.
WA Senator Glenn Sterle says the completion of this project can’t be overstated.
“The new channel bridge will ensure that the people of the Kimberley get the fuel, food and other supplies they need,” Sterle says.
“It will provide resilience for the Kimberley supply chain along with a safe transport option for the people of Kimberley. It will help the Kimberley’s thriving tourism industry.”
Victoria
Eastern Freeway upgrade contracts announced
The Victorian government is powering ahead on the North East Link project, with two bidders announced for the next major elements of the Eastern Freeway upgrades.
The consortium includes John Holland, Seymour Whyte, Jacobs and Mott Macdonald, with the group to complete upgrades between Hoddle Street and Burke Road, including new lanes and connections to the Eastern Busway.
Another consortium involving CPB Contractors, BMD Constructions and Arup will complete the upgrades between Tram and Springvale roads, including new express lanes.
Together, the three packages of Eastern Freeway works will add more than 45 kilometres of new lanes where they’re needed most, slashing travel times by up to 11 minutes.
The Eastern Freeway Upgrades and North East Link tunnels will be complete in 2028, taking 15,000 trucks off local roads and saving up to 35 minutes in travel time between the east and outer north.
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New South Wales
M1 Pacific Highway conditions change
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has revealed the northbound exit ramp on the M1 Pacific Highway at the Oxley Highway Interchange will be closed at multiple times in November and December.
From November 10 to 14, 8pm to 5am, the ramp will be closed, as well as between November 24 and December 6 from 8pm to 5am.
Motorists travelling northbound will be directed to continue along the Pacific Highway and use the detour via the Sancrox Road exit, with heavy vehicles, B-doubles and OSOM vehicles able to use the detour to access Port Macquarie or the Oxley Highway.
Newell Highway delays postponed
TfNSW has announced that changed traffic conditions for OSOM vehicles on the Newell Highway at Bellata have been postponed.
Changed traffic conditions for OSOM vehicles will now be in place on November 8 and 9 from 7am to 6pm at Oak, Temi and North Street intersections on the Newell Highway.
If contact is not made prior to travel, these operators may be subject to delays of up to 60 minutes due to width restrictions.
M11 NorthConnex Tunnel night closure
TfNSW has issued a traffic alert for the M11 NorthConnex Tunnel from November 10 to 14, 9pm to 5am.
As part of routine maintenance, all traffic will be diverted via Pennant Hills Road to join the M1 at Wahroonga or the M2 at West Pennant Hills during the closures.
TfNSW says heavy vehicles won’t be fined for using Pennant Hills Road during the closures.
Hexham Bridge works to delay traffic
TfNSW says works from November 17 to 20 and November 24 to 26 will see OSOM vehicles impacted travelling southbound on Hexham Bridge at Hexham.
OSOM operators with ground contact width wider than 3.2m and/or width greater than 4.5m are advised to contact the project team on 0428 259 730 at least five days ahead of movement to avoid significant delays.
Queensland
Western Reseal Program to commence
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has revealed that reseal works will begin on various roads in South-West Queensland from November 12 until late December.
As part of ongoing maintenance programs for the South West District, various sections of the Landsborough Highway, Quilpie-Thargomindah Road, Blackall-Adavale Road, Mitchell Highway, Diamantina Developmental Road and Bulloo Developmental Road will be impacted.
FNQ resurfacing works to begin
TMR says resurfacing works on sections of Mossman-Daintree Road will impact traffic for heavy vehicles.
With asphalt resurfacing being completed to reduce potholes, crews will be onsite from 6am to 6pm on November 18, with works expected to be completed in three days.
Temporary speed limit reductions and single lane operations will be run during the time, with intermittent full closures of the road also being necessary.
Kennedy Highway and Tinaroo Falls Dam Road works
Works on Tinaroo Falls Dam Road will occur on November 21, while ongoing resurfacing works will happen on the Kennedy Highway from January 9 to 22.
The works will involve asphalt resurfacing to extend the life of the road pavement and reduce the formation of potholes, improving safety and travelling conditions for road users.
Palmerston Highway closures
From November 22 to December 12, the Palmerston Highway between Innisfail and Millaa Millaa will be impacted by resurfacing works.
Temporary speed limit reductions, single lane operations and intermittent closures will all be in place while the work is completed from 6am to 6pm each day.
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