Department of Transport and Main Roads is investigating changes to the Walkerston Bypass

The tender process for the major road project is currently under way.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert look at plans for the Walkerston Bypass. Picture: Melanie Whiting

Changes to the $150 million Walkerston Bypass project are being considered following claims one of its intersections is “an accident waiting to happen”.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said it was investigating options, associated costs and impacts of requested design changes.

In December, Canegrowers Chairman Kevin Borg said the project’s design would force large cane farming vehicles to use a staggered T-intersection to traverse the Walkerston Bypass in both directions.

Mr Borg said an engineering investigation conducted on behalf of growers had found the road design failed to consider the increased volume of farm traffic at harvest season, from June to December.

In an update, the department spokeswoman said the tender process for the Walkerston Bypass was under way.

“Expressions of interest went to market in September 2020 and short-listed tenderers were informed in November 2020,” she said.

“Final tender documents were released to the short-listed tenderers on Monday March 15.”

Mr Borg said it was good to hear the department was investigating options, associated costs and impacts of requested design changes.

“The design in its current form is an accident waiting to happen,” he said.

“Motorists’ and our farmers’ safety should be the department’s paramount concern

“We are pleased to hear the department is ‘considering’ options, however, ‘considering’ is not decision-making and we look forward to a more positive outcome soon - certainly prior to the beginning of construction in three months’ time.”

Main construction is expected to start on the project in mid-2021 and take two years to complete.

The bypass is tipped to support about 207 direct jobs over the project’s life.

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The first 2.6km of the Walkerston Bypass has already been built as part of the Mackay Ring Road, which officially opened in September.

It will remove through traffic from Walkerston and create a safer, less congested road network by providing a 10.6km link between the Bruce and Peak Downs Highway.

The department will write to residents in Walkerston and the surrounding areas next week to update them on local connections to the bypass and proposed changes to the road network.

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Originally published as Department of Transport and Main Roads is investigating changes to the Walkerston Bypass