New England Highway to receive more than $5m facelift

Motorists have raised concern over sections of a major regional highway, with reports of serious damage to vehicles. See the major upgrades coming in 2025.

Southern Downs residents have raised concern for the safety of motorists travelling on the New England Highway between Warwick and Stanthorpe.

Eroded sections of the New England Highway between Toowoomba and Stanthorpe have caused concern among motorists.

The highway’s condition has seen a noticeable change with the recent spate of wet weather, causing major potholes catching unsuspecting drivers off guard.

A post by a concerned resident on a Southern Downs social media group has sparked a number of residents to come forward with their concerns over the treacherous road.

The area in question was along part of the New England Highway near Dalveen.

“Please be careful driving back from Warwick to Stanthorpe, there’s a massive pothole just before Mitchells Rd and it caused quite a bit of damage to my sister’s car tonight,” the post said.

The warning to other motorists saw a string of comments from other road users who had a similar experience with that section or other sections along the New England Highway.

TMR has recieved 23 reports from concerned members of the public about the condition of the New England Highway between Warwick and Stanthorpe in the past year.

Residents raised concern over the visibility of the pothole at night, with a many reporting having encountered the damaged part of the road and while travelling at 100km/h.

“Hit that one tonight at highway speed. Somebody should paint around the hole so it can be seen, or better yet repair it properly. Hard to see in the dark and no warning,” another person said.

“I was going to post about it too – it is huge. To miss it you have to be near the outside line I’d say. I hit it doing 100 and it jarred me really badly,” another person said.

Concerns were also raised over the recent wet weather and its potential to make the pothole more dangerous to road users.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesman said 23 members of the public have contacted TMR regarding the condition of the New England Highway between Warwick and Stanthorpe.

The TMR spokesman said three additional enquiries from elected representatives in the region were also received in the past year.

A string of major upgrades to the New England Highway between Warwick and Wallangarra are set to begin in 2025.

“Each report has been investigated by TMR, with identified hazards being promptly repaired,” the spokesman said.

“TMR can confirm $5.12m of pavement repair works are scheduled to commence in May 2025 along the New England Highway between Warwick and Wallangarra, including full width repairs just south of Ballandean. These works are expected to be complete by the end of 2025, weather and construction conditions permitting.

“Reseal works for sections of the New England Highway are programmed for February and March 2026. While there is no contract currently in place for these works, TMR expects delivery in the first quarter of 2026.”

A further $415,000 of safety works are schedules for construction between 2024 to 2025 at Applethorpe State School and at the intersection of the New England Highway and Granite Belt Dr.

“TMR is committed to achieving the best safety outcomes for road users across the state and prioritises projects to ensure funds are directed to areas identifying the greatest safety and capacity needs across Queensland,” the spokesman said.

“Community feedback about the network is a key consideration, together with technical data when determining priorities.

“TMR’s road crews undertake regular inspections of our network to identify maintenance issues. Potholes can emerge quickly particularly in flood prone areas or following extended period of wet weather.”

TMR encourages motorists to report potholes or other maintenance issues by calling 13 19 40.