Toowoomba Bypass repairs could take nine months to complete, no date set for single-lane reopening

Repairs to the Toowoomba Bypass could take longer than first anticipated, as both residents and businesses grapple with more than a 1100 extra trucks on city roads.

Works to fully reopen the eastbound lanes of the beleaguered Toowoomba Bypass could take up to nine months to finish, according to the state government.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has revealed contractor Nexus Infrastructure will start the repairs in March next year, a full five months after movement was discovered in a cutting in October that could cause rockfalls if not addressed.

It comes as city residents and businesses grapple with an extra 1100 trucks every day on Toowoomba roads, while emergency works to reopen one lane were delayed last week due to predicted wet weather.

New aerial images showcase the damage sustained to the cutting of the Toowoomba Bypass, which has been closed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads for repairs.

A TMR spokeswoman said the short-term solution, which involved installing double-stacked shipping containers on the eastbound shoulder, would be finished “as soon as possible”.

“Investigations into the permanent works have begun, which will finalise a design and plan to complete the works,” the statement said.

“The current target is to start reconstruction works in March 2023. These are expected to take at least six months to complete.

“A firm estimate of the timing of reconstruction will be known once the design is completed.

“About 1150 additional heavy vehicles per day are being diverted through Toowoomba while the eastbound lanes remain closed.”

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts called the predicted repair timeline “incredibly disappointing”, particularly for heavy transport operators.

“The timelines proposed are very disappointing, it’s affecting businesses and contractors, especially for those using types of road trains that have to now break them up into multiple trucks,” he said.

“People have set their business models up around sending freight straight to the port, so that’s an added impact on those operators.

“From my point of view, let’s get one lane open and put all the heavy traffic on that.

“We spent $1.6bn on a road, you don’t expect to stop working in a couple of years.”

Toowoomba is once again impacted by road trains and other heavy haulage vehicles, pictured on James St, as the Toowoomba Bypass closure extends. Picture: Kevin Farmer

This increase in heavy transport has not been missed by businesses based along James Street.

Downs Office Equipment and Supplies general manager Dale Robbins said it was something locals would have to endure for the time being.

“There’s certainly been an increase in traffic as a result of the eastbound lane closures, and there’s been an increase in the amount of time taken to traverse the city,” he said.

Downs Office Equipment and Supplies managing director Dale Robbins has noticed an uptick in the number of road trains along James Street since the eastbound lane closures on the Toowoomba Bypass were shut due to repairs.

Highlander Motor Inn co-owner Mark Hall said the extra smell from cattle trucks had been noticeable.

“We’ve noticed a big difference and now it’s returned to this, there’s certainly an increase in noise and smell,” he said.

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce Todd Rohl said he had received word from multiple business owners about how the diversion was affecting their workplaces’ amenities.

The TMR spokeswoman said traffic signal timings through Toowoomba had been altered to reduce delays.

“Transport inspectors are working with heavy vehicle operators on education and enforcement activities,” she said.

“We are also working with the local heavy vehicle industry to adjust traffic signal timing to reduce delays and increase safety where possible.

“We thank the community and heavy vehicle industry for their patience while this work is completed.”