It’s another edition of OwnerDriver’s Friday Road Update, with there being plenty happening heading into the weekend. While there is roadwork aplenty occurring in New South Wales this month, some current traffic delays are in place throughout parts of Queensland due to collisions and roadworks.
New South Wales
Princes Highway closures inbound for Mount Ousley interchange works
Transport for NSW (Transport) has confirmed that “significant” road closures will be coming from next week as work on the Mount Ousley interchange escalates.
With construction ramping up, the M1 Princes Motorway and some surrounding roads will experience various closure impacts on six nights over two weeks between 8pm and 4am, weather permitting.
From November 3, works will begin on the 4th and 6th of the month, while the second period of closures will take place on November 10, 11 and 13.
At these times, full lane closures will be in place for the Princes Highway between New Mount Pleasant Road and Memorial Drive, the northbound M1 on and off ramps at Northfields Avenue and on Irvine Street between Madoline Street and Northfields Avenue.
Transport coordinator general Howard Collins says motorists will need to plan ahead with significant disruption expected as a result of the night closures.
“We want everyone who uses the Princes Motorway to be aware of these closures and to understand their impact between November 3 and 13,” he says.
“While building the Mount Ousley interchange we need to work at night to minimise the traffic disruption and to helps ensure the safety of workers and all road users.
“These upcoming closures will be frustrating for some but the work being done during this time will pave the way for major project construction to get underway, which when complete will make life easier for all motorists using this part of the M1.”
Closures will allow for extensive work will be carried out in the corridor, including installation of site fencing and road barriers to prepare the area for major works.
NSW makes Mitchell Highway safety investment
The NSW government has announced two significant safety upgrades to the Mitchell Highway between Dubbo and Narromine.
Almost $11.1 million worth of safety upgrades will address the western NSW route, with two projects planned at Minore and Brummagen Curve to boost efficiency and safety on the route.
At Minore, just west of the new Mylangra overtaking lanes, widening and improving road pavement will occur alongside drainage work and vegetation removal.
The Brummagen Curve project includes realigning the curve to improve safety, with shoulder widening and wide centre lines also part of the changes to reduce head-on collision risks.
Work still start on the Minore project in late November.
“The Mitchell Highway between Dubbo and Narromine carries thousands of locals, tourists and freight operators daily.
These upgrades will help ensure all road users reach their destinations safely,” NSW regional roads and transport minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“Safety is our number one priority on all state roads and highways. The funding through these programs reflects the NSW government’s goal of achieving zero road deaths on the NSW road network.
“The Towards Zero Safer Road program delivers important road infrastructure on the key routes most regularly used by motorists across the state.”
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M1 Motorway extension continues
The federal government has confirmed the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace north of Newcastle has reached a milestone, with the first girders successfully lifted into place at the northern interchange of the Heatherbrae Bypass.
Motorists will see the interchange come to life after the lifting of eight bridge girders onto the northern interchange on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 October.
The overbridge at the northern interchange will serve as the main direct access off the M1 Pacific Motorway, to the Pacific Highway and the townships of Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace.
When completed, the interchange will provide southbound motorists the option to continue into Heatherbrae using the local road network or take the new motorway across Windeyers Creek bypassing Heatherbrae.
The work to build the overbridge includes geotechnical investigations, relocation of utilities, drainage, earthworks, bridge substructure and superstructure, and pavement works.
The team has already lifted 62 of the 827 bridge girders into place across the project, with more than 70 per cent of the Heatherbrae Bypass workforce sourced from the Hunter Region, including 38 apprentices and 12 trainees.
The extension is expected to be open to traffic in mid-2028.
“This is an exciting step forward for the M1 Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace project,” federal transport minister Catherine King says.
“Once complete, this project, together with the Coffs Harbour bypass, will provide the remaining major upgrades to complete a free-flowing route between Sydney and Brisbane with no traffic lights.”
Queensland
Roadworks hit highway trio
The Queensland department of transport and main roads (TMR) has confirmed three roadworks are currently underway on critical highways.
Roadworks on the Bruce Highway at Bentley Park/Edmonton are ongoing, with all lanes affected and delays expected both ways during active hours until the project is expected to wrap up on March 31 next year.
On the Captain Cook Highway at Sheridan Street, roadworks will see all lanes affected outbound towards Lily Street as trucks enter and exit the construction site from Smith Street to Lily Street.
These disruptions are expected to continue until November 30.
Further roadworks on the highway between Beor Street and Dickson Street is occurring today, with both lanes affected.
Final roadworks are occurring on the Kennedy Highway until November 30, with surveyors working in the Upper Barron/Wondecla region.
With all lanes affected in both directions, TMR says no delays expected, but motorists should observe signage.
Multi-vehicle crash holds up Cunningham Highway
The TMR department has advised that a multi-vehicle collision on the Cunningham Highway is impacting traffic.
While no delays are now expected following disruptions this morning, the area at Ipswich Boonah Road should still have all lanes blocked in all directions, with diversions in place.
Tasmania
Bridgewater Bridge to reduce congestion
The federal government has revealed the new Bridgewater Bridge has had its final pair of 42 bridge piers poured, marking the completion of the bridge’s substructure in a bid to reduce congestion.
The $786 million project will result in a four-lane bridge that will fix the missing link between the Brooker Highway and Midland Highway.
The 46 piles that make up the bridge’s foundations were completed in July 2024, ranging between 30-90 metres below the river. One of the final piles to be poured is believed to be the largest ever poured in Australia, reaching 88 metres below the surface.
Each pier is the starting point for the construction of the superstructure, which is made up of 1,082 concrete bridge segments produced at the project’s purpose-built precast yard at Bridgewater.
The 21 pairs of piers range in height from eight to 16 metres to provide the navigation clearance under the bridge.
Made up of between 190-310 tonnes of concrete and 25-35 tonnes of steel, each pier is constructed using specially designed steel forms, which allow them to be poured in one piece on site.
The project remains on track to be delivered on time and within budget, with the new bridge due to be completed by July 2025.
“Anyone who has driven through the area recently would have seen the hive of activity as we move closer to having traffic on the new bridge,” Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff says.
“The project site is changing daily, and Tasmanians are rightly excited to see the new bridge taking shape so quickly.
“Completing the bridge’s substructure is a major milestone and is a significant step towards seeing the deck of the new bridge finished.
“Not only will a new Bridgewater Bridge remove the bottlenecks people have been experiencing at each end of the bridge, but it will provide more reliable travel times so people know how long their journey will take.”
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