Flying start to Blacksoil

THE sprawling Blacksoil Interchange project is making a striking change to the landscape and the massive project is running well on schedule.

THE sprawling Blacksoil Interchange project is making a striking change to the landscape and the massive project is running well on schedule.

Thousands of tonnes of soil are being trucked in and sculpted into shape as the base for the major new interchange.

The $93.4 million intersection upgrade aims to improve safety and increase the capacity of the Warrego Hwy and Brisbane Valley Hwy intersection at Blacksoil.

The Australian Government has committed $54 million to the upgrade from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, with the Queensland Government contributing the remaining $39.4 million to the project.

A Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said the project was on track for completion by late next year, weather permitting.

The intersection upgrade started in April and has been progressing well, thanks to favourable weather, with the flyover from Wulkuraka Connection Rd to the Brisbane Valley Hwy steadily taking shape.

"In the past couple of months, the landscape at the Warrego Hwy and Brisbane Valley Hwy intersection has changed rapidly," the spokeswoman said.

"The bridge's southern retaining wall has taken shape and the centre piers are now built.

"Earthworks for the southern approach ramp is nearing completion, with the new section of Wulkuraka Connection Road close to its final designed height."

Last month, TMR said earthworks to build the approach ramps needed about 100,000 cubic metres.

The most recent traffic change involved lowering the speed limit to 40kmh near Wulkuraka Connection Rd.

"This is to provide a safe working environment for construction of the westbound on-ramp, which will continue over the next few months," the spokeswoman said.

"Construction is also continuing on the new westbound Warrego Hwy lanes and associated off-ramps, as well as on the new eastbound off-ramp. Asphalt is expected to be laid by the end of the year, weather permitting."

The TMR spokeswoman said the Blacksoil Interchange project would bring benefits including:

Increased safety: "TMR is seeking to increase safety by grade separating the intersection, which will remove the need for vehicles to turn across oncoming traffic."

Increased capacity: "We're increasing the capacity of the intersection to accommodate higher volumes of traffic caused by the region's rapid population growth and the resources boom."

Decreased travel time: "When finished, we're aiming to improve road user travel time by adjusting the speed limit on the Warrego Hwy to 100kmh."

Originally published as Flying start to Blacksoil