Upgrade woes continue for motorists as Cunninghams Gap reconstruction expected to last until mid-2025
Works to repair the gateway to the Southern Downs is expected to continue into the near future, as the Department of Transport and Main Roads reveal when the project should finish and what needs to do before it’s ready.
Warwick
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The expected completion date for upgrades to one of Queensland’s most dangerous roads has been revealed, with members of the community asked to provide feedback.
After Cunninghams Gap was heavily damaged by bushfires in 2019, work to repair the 2km stretch of the Cunningham Highway has been ongoing.
A timeline of the massive $86m reconstruction effort has been released by the government, revealing the estimated completion time of the project is mid-2025.
From mid-June a ‘contraflow’ system was introduced, with traffic controllers stopping traffic in each direction as only one lane was open.
Currently, motorists are required to stop for up to about 15 minutes near the turn off to Lake Moogerah and the town of Aratula on the east side of the Gap.
Beginning in October, the first phase of reconstruction will begin, with road users potentially experiencing intermittent delays of up to 30 minutes.
From October 9 to December 8 motorists will experience delays when travelling through Cunninghams Gap between the hours of 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
In early 2024, further traffic changes can be expected throughout the project, with 24-hour, seven-day-a-week stop/slow traffic conditions for up to three months.
In order to complete the project by the mid-2025 time frame, several important steps need to be completed by the Department, including:
Insurance agency AAMI this week released its crash index 2023, naming the Cunningham Highway as one of Queensland’s crash hotspot.
Data revealed shows collision with stationary object the most common type of crash, occurring primarily in the mornings of Monday and Friday.
The index also named Warwick’s Palmerin St and the New England Highway at Warwick as two other crash hotspots in the Darling Downs.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the department wanted “to reduce the impact on communities and industry as we deliver these critical repairs”.
“Due to the complexity of the recovery work and to ensure the safety of the workers and road users, we can‘t fully rule out needing occasional emergent short-term, temporary closures of the highway at the Gap in the future,” he said.
“Where possible, we will provide advance notice if temporary closures are required.”
The reconstruction project team will be available to discuss the upcoming traffic changes on the following locations:
Aratula – Aratula Community Sports Centre – September 25
Kalbar – Kalbar School of Arts & Memorial Hall – September 25
Stanthorpe – Farley Street Piazza – September 22
Warwick – Rose City Shoppingworld – September 22
Maryvale – Maryvale Community Hall – September 21
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