Capricorn Highway widening project has started between Alpha and Emerald

The project will widen three high-priority sections of the highway, creating local jobs and increased safety for road users.

Work has started on an $8.95 million project widening three high-priority sections of the Capricorn Highway between Emerald and Alpha.

Work has started on an $8.95 million project to widen parts of the Capricorn Highway, creating local jobs and improving road safety.

The project will widen three high-priority sections of the highway to nine metres in a 26-kilometre section between Emerald and Alpha.

Several culverts will also be replaced and extended from about 25 kilometres east of Alpha.

Barcaldine region Mayor Sean Dillon said widening targeted areas of the highway was an important step in progressively ensuring the highway remained fit for purpose.

“The Capricorn Highway is a key connector for our region and this investment is contributing to safeguarding its role in further advancing our communities and commerce,” he said.

“The project is also helping provide job security to our local workforce which is important to maintaining the liveability of regional Queensland.”

Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders said the project would improve road safety for the highway’s increased traffic.

“This will improve road safety and reliability while ensuring the highway can continue to keep pace with increasingly higher volumes of traffic driven mainly by growth in tourism and the resources sector,” he said.

“We have seen an increase in vehicles travelling along this section of the highway each day, especially heavy vehicles.

“This is expected to continue, considering links with mining areas and the Mackay and Gladstone ports, Gracemere Saleyards, and the abattoirs in Rockhampton.”

Barcaldine Regional Council mayor Sean Dillon.

The Capricorn Highway provides access to essential services such as employment, education, and health services for regional towns including Alpha, Jericho, and Barcaldine.

“The Capricorn Highway is a key connector for many industries and communities and is essential for the ongoing future growth of regional business,” Mr Saunders said.

“As the principal east-west freight corridor connecting the Bruce Highway with the Landsborough Highway, the Capricorn Highway supports general freight, agricultural movements, and resource sector traffic.

“This work will also help support the Palaszczuk Government’s long-term vision to build an inland freight route from Charters Towers to Mungindi, taking heavy haulage off the Bruce Highway.”

Roadworks will be carried out on Monday to Sunday between 6am and 6pm, with works expected to be completed by mid 2022.

Traffic control and speed restrictions will be in place during the works and motorists are encouraged to drive safely.

Mr Saunders said the project was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $27.5 billion roads and transport investment over four years, which was creating 24,000 jobs.

“This includes a $328.3 million funding commitment for Central West Queensland, creating an average of 400 direct jobs,” he said.