Reconstruction work to start on Toowoomba Bypass collapse

Workers will be a constant feature on the Toowoomba Bypass with repairs to a damage cutting to start soon, the project’s builder confirming the route will be closed to traffic again.

Full scale repairs to a damaged cutting alongside the Toowoomba Bypass are expected to start soon with the project’s builder confirming the job will take until late 2024 to complete.

Nexus Infrastructure CEO, James Thewlis said he was pleased to see the repair work start after a “detailed engineering and design process”.

“Some works have already commenced including site establishment, clearing and excavation activities to reprofile and stabilise the cutting to the new design profile,” he said.

“Given the challenging terrain, the repair methodology requires using a fully enclosed conveyor material transfer system that will move materials over the Bypass”.

As a result the bypass will be closed on Friday and Saturday.

The CFMEU has called for Transport and Main Roads director general Neil Scales to resign of the Toowoomba Bypass failures.

“Safety is our highest priority and this material transfer system allows the team carrying out repairs to the cutting in an safe and efficient way,” Mr Thewlis said.

“Other than this upcoming closure, with the measures already installed, we are confident that the Bypass will remain open during the majority of these works.”

Large sections of a cutting on the northern side of the east bound lane fell away in October 2022 after prolonged and unseasonable wet summer and autumn.

Large section of a cutting fell away after heavy rain.

The TMR contact states that Nexus must cover the cost of repairs.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads was forced to redirect heavy freight traffic through the city at a significant cost to logistics companies and considerable frustration to residents.

The public was initially told that the bypass would only be closed for a few weeks but that quickly ballooned until Nexus Group installed a barrier made from double-stacked shipping containers to protect drivers from falling debris.

The $1.6 billion contract to build the Toowoomba Bypass included a condition that Nexus would be responsible for all repairs for the first 25 years.

It is yet to confirm how much the current repairs will cost.

Despite the agreement, the collapse and blown-out repair time has led to calls from the CFMEU for TMR boss Neil Scales to resign.

In December last year, CFMEU assistant state secretary for Queensland Jade Ingham told the Chronicle that the project was plagued with safety and quality issues during the build that he blamed TMR for accepting a “cheap Charlie” tender from Nexus Group.

“They did not undertake the proper preparation work or any of the pre-pour engineering work, such as underpinning, laying geo fabric or installation of expansion joints,” he claimed.

“The earth swells and contracts but they did not make proper allowances for that.

“TMR can blame the weather but the weather has not affected other sections.

“It didn’t just rain on the northern side of the bypass.”

A TMR spokesperson responded to the claims, saying that Nexus was working as quickly as possible to undertake repairs on the Toowoomba Bypass.

“The Toowoomba Bypass was built using a highly scrutinised, multi-agency design and construction methodology,” they said.

“An independent review of the project certified all works were completed in accordance with the approved drawings and standards. No two road construction sites are the same, and complex geotechnical issues are the primary cause of these cut face issues.”

Originally published as Reconstruction work to start on Toowoomba Bypass collapse