Bypass repairs needed after three months of use

The Toowoomba Bypass is being assessed for repairs just three months after opening.

JUST three months after the Toowoomba Bypass opened, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has confirmed the 800m viaduct stretch of the road needs to be repaired.

Darling Downs delegate for the Livestock Rural Transport Association Queensland, and Fraser's Transport fleet manager, Mark Collins said there was definitely a problem appearing across the viaduct, particularly in the eastbound lanes.

"There is something wrong with the surface on the viaduct, the material is starting to break up and go into a corrugation with a lot of ripples across it," Mr Collins said.

"It feels very bumpy and you can see it with the naked eye.

"It's only the outside lane in the east and west as that's where the heavy transport is travelling most of the time."

Mr Collins said there was some small corrugation starting in the west bound lane, but it was "nowhere near as bad" as the east bound lane.

He said he couldn't tell what might have caused the damaged to the surface.

"These roads are engineered to be able to handle the conditions we're in, they're well aware of our climate, and the sort of vehicles that are using the range.

"The roads are designed to suit all applications, what goes wrong I couldn't really tell you."

Despite only driving across the bypass in a car himself, he said drivers would be able to feel the corrugations more in a truck.

"It's not only the feel you get but the question of the wear and tear factor on the vehicle," he said.

"You wouldn't break anything, but wear and tear would be increased."

With tolls due to start on December 9, a Department of Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman said they were aware of "some roughness" on the surface of the viaduct, but the surface had been assessed and was declared safe.

"The surface is being closely monitored by Broadspectrum, Nexus' operations and maintenance subcontractor for the road," the spokeswoman said.

"We are working closely with Nexus to determine the cause and options available to return the surface to its original condition."

The department could not advise The Chronicle when the issue would be fixed.