Western Downs roads in Tara and Dalby receive major million-dollar upgrades

A key road in Tara is just one across the Western Downs that has received an upgrade to reduce the impacts of flood damage and improve connectivity. See all the roadworks expected to be completed this year.

Bullockhead Rd in Tara is just one of the major networks to receive upgrades in 2023. Picture: contributed

One of Tara’s major roads has undergone more than a million-dollar upgrade to protect it from flood damage and assist the region’s transport network.

Western Downs Regional Council have completed a $1.75m upgrade along Bullockhead Rd at Tara, which has seen 9km of gravel turned to bitumen as a way of improving protection against flooding.

Council’s Works and Technical Services spokesman councillor George Moore said the upgrade would enhance the key connection route for the local transport network.

“Council invests in a safe, well-maintained road network, and this project has completed the ‘missing link’ of bitumen connecting Roaches Rd and Southwood Rd,” he said.

Bullockhead Rd in Tara is just one of the major networks to receive upgrades in 2023. Picture: contributed

“Approximately 160,000 litres of bitumen product has been used to complete this road upgrades, which will ensure a stronger, sturdier roadway that is also more resilient to rain events.”

Mr Moore said council had planned to provide a number of road upgrades this year with several packages of works underway to repair or improve road networks.

“This project is part of our $21.9m capital works program, which is delivering upgrades to roads, bridges and footpaths across the Western Downs this year,” he said.

In addition to the Tara road improvement, a large stretch of Daandine-Nandi Road outside of Dalby has been upgraded as part of a major package worth $70m.

Arrow Energy’s operations manager Mac Gordon said the company supported the project that began in 2021, and will be completed in coming weeks.

“Daandine-Nandi Rd is about 15km west of Dalby and is a key thoroughfare and access road for local farmers and the community,” he said.

“We’ve widened several sections of the road and sealed almost 8km of previously unsealed sections. We’ve also increased the number of driveways and access points for landholders and upgraded the drainage.”

Daandine-Nandi Rd outside of Dalby is just one of the major networks to receive upgrades in 2023. Picture: contributed

The upgrades that have been completed aim to improve the safety of road users, specifically farmers in the areas, allowing them to move their large farming equipment and vehicles more easily and safely between properties.

“It’s been a huge effort to overcome the weather challenges of the past 12 months and bring this critical piece of road infrastructure to completion,” Mr Gordon said.

Other works by Arrow Energy are underway such as Grassdale Rd and Abernethy Rd intersection, improvements to Springvale and Grassdale Rd intersection, minor upgrades to Abernethy Rd which are expected to be finalised later this year.

Originally published as Western Downs roads in Tara and Dalby receive major million-dollar upgrades