Drivers face new 60km/h speed zone on major Toowoomba road

Motorists face fresh speed restrictions as authorities cut limits on a major city street by 10km/h, extending controversial changes that have already divided drivers across the city.

Motorists take note – there is another significant speed limit change coming to a busy stretch of one of Toowoomba’s major thoroughfares.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads revealed on Monday that a part of Ruthven St would drop from 70km/h to 60km/h.

The changes apply from near Freyling Park to the southern side of Nelson St, extending the 60km/h zone for another 700m.

The speed limit returns to 80km/h from this point.

The department said it had made the changes after “concerns from the local community” sparked a speed limit review.

“We’ve listened to the Toowoomba community’s concern about the safety of road users along Ruthven St and have reduced the speed limit to 60km/h adjacent to Freyling Park to just south of Nelson St,” TMR’s Bill Lansbury said.

The speed limit on a section of Ruthven Street will drop to 60km/h.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is committed to road safety through providing a safe environment for all road users and implementing safety initiatives to reduce the likelihood and severity of a crash.”

The decision is likely to divide motorists.

TMR controversially changed a segment of Ruthven St from 60km/h to 50km/h in April 2024, also citing safety concerns.

Readers took to social media to express disbelief at the speed limit change, which stretches 1.1km from Long to Alderley streets.

At that time, TMR told News Corp Australia that “no further speed limit changes on Ruthven St are being considered”.

Speed limit reviews consider road function, roadside environment, road construction standards, prevailing traffic speeds and crash history.

TMR said the change had been endorsed by the speed management committee, which included representatives from the police and local government.

The department has yet to reveal when the speed limit change will be enforced, instead saying signs would be erected “in the coming months”.