Horror New England Highway crash prompts calls for major upgrade

Two elections ago Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington promised to fix one of the state’s only single-lane highway bridges that she described as dangerous, with an insider saying her promise no longer counts.

Nanango MP and now Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington is yet to make good on her almost decade old promise to fix a dangerous single-lane bridge on the New England Highway.

Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington described one of the state’s only single-lane bridges on a highway as dangerous followed by a promise to fix it if the LNP was elected.

Eight years on and now in power, an insider says Ms Frecklington’s promise to fix the New England Hwy single-lane Back Creek Bridge at Cooyar - which was the scene of a catastrophic head-on crash on June 23 - doesn’t count under the new LNP government.

The highway bridge has a volume of more than 6000 vehicles per day and relies on northbound traffic to give way to oncoming traffic.

It has been the site of countless near misses and dozens of crashes.

The notorious single lane bridge at Cooyar. Photo: Jessica Klein

Now heavy haulage experts, motorists, and the South Burnett and Toowoomba communities are calling for Ms Frecklington and her government to finally make good on her promise.

A News Corp social media poll generated more than 1600 responses, with 100 per cent of the vote saying the bridge needs to be upgraded to two lanes.

“They promised that in an election quite a few years ago, but at the same time another broken promise,” one resident said.

Ms Frecklington told Newscorp back in 2017 there would be a commitment of $5m to upgrade the bridge.

“I know how many people use the New England Highway every day, and this dangerous single-lane bridge is on my priority list for complete replacement. The upgrade will include a brand new bridge and a realignment of the approaches to improve visibility,” she said.

Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads began planning an upgrade of the bridge and approaches in February 2023, yet is awaiting further funding to progress to the design and construction phase.

It remains the only single-lane bridge on the New England Highway which connects Queensland and NSW, spanning 883 kilometres between Yarraman and Hexham in NSW where the highway ends.

The give way sign located on the northbound side of the bridge has residents questioning whether it should be moved to south of the Cooyar township. Photo: Jessica Klein

According to Department of Transport and Main Roads traffic data thousands of light and heavy vehicles travel the New England Highway between Toowoomba and Yarraman each day, with numbers spiking during the school and Christmas holiday season.

Truckright freight and heavy vehicle road safety ambassador Rod Hannify said a single lane bridge with limited visibility on a busy highway was bound to attract accidents.

“While it’s (New England Highway) not as busy as it used to be it’s still a highway of importance and lots of trucks use it,” he said.

“If the bridge isn’t replaced the capacity is higher for such accidents to continue.”

Mr Hannify suggested an interim measure would be to install heavy vehicle call signs on either side of the bridge to encourage truck drivers to communicate with one another via radio about traffic coming across the bridge.

“It might not prevent all accidents, but it could stop the ones involving trucks,” Mr Hannify said.

This publication specifically asked Ms Frecklington whether she intended to make good on her upgrade promise.

“My thoughts are with those involved in the crash at Cooyar on Monday morning and the first-responders who assisted at the scene,” she said.

“The Crisafulli Government is getting on with the job of putting regional Queenslanders and road infrastructure back on the priority list after nearly a decade of neglect from the former Labor Government.”

Member for Nanango and Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington is yet to make good on her promise to fix a dangerous single-lane bridge on the New England Highway. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland’s Budget release on Wednesday paints a different picture, with no funding allocated for Darling Downs roads.

The bridge falls within the Toowoomba Regional Council LGA, who also released its 2025-26 budget with a whopping $236m allocated to capital projects, none of which include a contribution to upgrading Cooyar’s Back Creek Bridge.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg reiterated planning was underway for long-term safety and infrastructure upgrades on the bridge and its approaches, but did not confirm a funding commitment for design and construction.

“These improvements aim to address increasing traffic volumes and ongoing safety concerns in the area,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“I have travelled this stretch of road, crossed this bridge, and will visit the site for further discussions.

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to ensuring regional roads meet the needs of growing communities and provide safer journeys for all Queenslanders.”