Beck Drive, Townsville Ring Road ramp to open to traffic

A new Ring Road ramp that led to outrage in the community when it was proposed will open soon. HERE’S WHAT WILL CHANGE.

A controversial new Ring Road ramp is set to open to vehicles this week, filtering more traffic into suburbia.

The change has been tipped as a massive boost for motorists in Townsville’s northern suburbs, who will be able to travel to Kirwan and the Upper Ross communities via Beck Drive, rather than Riverway Drive.

The Townsville Ring Road project.

The new ramp, which will connect Beck Drive to the Ring Road, will be switched on Friday, September 9.

However the changes have previously met significant backlash, with residents who live off Beck Drive saying it made no sense.

They also raised concerns about additional traffic flowing into suburban areas.

The change even spurred Mayor Jenny Hill to say she would rather chain herself to a pole in protest before seeing the new ramp be installed.

“We’re very concerned about noise mitigation and about traffic flows in and around suburban streets,” Cr Hill said at the time.

Changes from September 16

The new entry ramp at Beck Drive will provide eastbound travel access from the area, towards Townsville University Hospital and beyond.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said he had campaigned for the upgrades to the Ring Road.

“The new interchange at Beck Drive will drive further economic benefit in Townsville, and see local commuters get home to their family and friends quicker,” he said.

Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Catherine King said only 12km of construction remained, with the end in sight.

”While there is more work to be done, the traffic switches this month show just how much progress has been made to date,” Ms King said.

“The mammoth project includes six kilometres of road duplication, a new interchange built at Beck Drive, including a highway overpass of the local road, bridge duplications at Bohle River and Little Bohle River and other safety improvements.”

What will change from September 9.

State Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said this was a “major milestone” for the project, which was supporting jobs and better roads in the region.

“More than 17,000 people drive this section of road each day, so I’m sure each of those drivers will appreciate progress on this project,” he said.

Motorists can expect further changes from Friday 16 September, with traffic to be switched onto the new Ring Road alignment, including onto the new overpass of Beck Drive.

Once this occurs the eastbound exit ramp from the Ring Road to Riverway Drive will be

permanently closed. At the same time, a Ring Road entry ramp at Riverway Drive eastbound will be temporarily closed so it can be reconfigured to connect to the upgraded motorway.

Originally published as Beck Drive, Townsville Ring Road ramp to open to traffic