What Second Range Crossing means for James St

TOOWOOMBA'S busiest street will get a quieter lease on life when the Second Range Crossing opens.

TOOWOOMBA'S busiest street will get a quieter lease on life when the Second Range Crossing opens.

Trucks heavier than 4.5 tonnes, with some exceptions, will be mandated to use the bypass, which will be the new route of the Warrego Highway.

It means four-lane James St will see reduced traffic volumes but remain a state-controlled road.

The mandate will remove thousands of vehicles from Toowoomba each day, which Mayor Paul Antonio believes will create a new corridor of commerce along James St which remains a connector road.

"I think it will change that whole environment," Mayor Antonio said.

A spokesman for Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said part of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing arrangements mandated vehicles greater than 4.5 tonnes use the toll road, the price of which has not been released.

"The mandate is intended to reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling through central Toowoomba and return the streets of Toowoomba to the local community," he said.

"Heavy vehicles travelling north/south on the New England Highway will also be exempt.

The firm future of James St remains unclear, with the Toowoomba Regional Council and the State Government yet to finalise plans for its upkeep and maintenance once the bypass opens.

Dated plans, including one from 2009 recommending a green-space median strip be installed the length of the street, have not been officially dumped.

"(James St) will remain a major connection road," Cr Antonio said.

Originally published as What Second Range Crossing means for James St