Tender released for Stuart Dr, Bowen River Bridge upgrades

Project designs and a tender for upgrades to Stuart Drive and the Bowen River Bridge have been released as the state government is criticised for the slow pace on the redevelopment. Here’s why.

Project designs and a tender for upgrades to Stuart Drive and the Bowen River Bridge have been released as the state government is criticised for the slow pace on the redevelopment.

Both the LNP and Labor pitched the redevelopment of the intersection of Stuart Dr and Mervyn Crossman Dr at the 2020 election, citing safety concerns at the existing roundabout.

Labor has since revealed plans that the changes will include making Stuart Drive four lanes between University Road and Bowen Road Bridge, traffic lights to replace the roundabout at the Townsville Connection Rd and Mervyn Crossman Dr, traffic lights at the Gartrell Dr and Kokoda St intersection, and safety upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists.

Further funding has been committed to in the 2023/24 state budget, with $2m promised this year for the Bowen Road Bridge upgrade – with a further $66.49m in the forward estimates.

There is also $36.98m for road upgrades for 2023/24 – with another $49.63m in the forward estimates.

Mundingburra MP Les Walker said early pre-construction work has been done in the area, with the design and tender released for the project more than two weeks ago.

The timeline of the project has come under fire from Burdekin MP Dale Last, who said Mr Walker made a commitment to improve Stuart Drive, but he had “failed to deliver”.

Mr Last said it was unclear when the project would be delivered.

“The safety upgrades were an election commitment in 2020 that were made after the LNP committed to improving safety,” Mr Last said.

“Mr Walker had the hide to say the project was funded in the 2020 budget but we are still to see any improvements.

“The budget documents show $9.3m has been spent and still we have nothing to show for it.”

But Mr Walker said Mr Last and the LNP were the ones to “abandon” the project because they did not back the royalties scheme.

“This project is another example of the state government keeping Queenslanders safe on our roads, and I encourage residents to view the new design and fill out a short questionnaire, which will help inform the traffic management plan through construction,” he said.

State Roads Minister Mark Bailey said about 24,000 vehicles travel through the area every day, and it was important to make that trip safe.

“These upgrades will mean the road can handle a much larger volume of cars, increasing the traffic flow and helping with congestion,” he said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has also committed $70 million to deliver a new bridge over Townsville’s Ross River, next to the existing Bowen Road bridge.”

Originally published as Tender released for Stuart Dr, Bowen River Bridge upgrades