Toowoomba Regional Council starts work on $7.5m refresh of Russell St in CBD

Be aware motorists – a Toowoomba CBD street is undergoing some major works at the moment as part of big refresh.

TRC work continues on the Russell Street reshape.

Work has started on the major $7.5 million revitalisation of a busy street in the Toowoomba CBD, with motorists to be affected by lane closures for several weeks.

Trucks are on-site for the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Russell St Refresh project, with the majority of the construction currently taking place outside the National Hotel.

The program of works between Victoria and Neil Sts, which was endorsed by the councillors in November last year, would revitalise the street by upgrading footpaths, building a median strip between Victoria and Ruthven Sts, planting trees, installing street furniture, upgrading lighting and installing public artwork.

TRC work continues on the Russell Street reshape.

The refresh has not been without controversy, after a plan to reduce the speed limit from 40k/h to 30km/h was reversed by the councillors.

“If a future council wants to change the CBD to 30km/h we can do that, but all this is going to do is boost the coffers of the State Government with speeding tickets,” Cr Sommerfield said at the time.

Business owners along Russell St have expressed mixed opinions about the project, with some questioning the impact it will have on shops during the construction period.

But Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl backed the plan.

“We are fully supportive of refreshing the street — we think this will make a great contribution to things we’ve been advocating for, like asset renewal,” he said in November.

“We’ll just have to make sure construction impacts are closely monitored.”

The council was contacted for comment by did not respond in time for publication.

Single lane closures s well as traffic and pedestrian detours will be in place along Russell St while the works were being carried out.

For more information about current and upcoming roadworks, head to tr.qld.gov.au.