Riverway Drive stage 2 upgrade kicks off amid concerns over traffic relief

Construction on the long-awaited Riverway Drive Stage 2 upgrade has begun, but concerns persist about congestion relief as the development of an alternative route through Kelso remains in limbo.

Riverway Drive. Picture: Evan Morgan

Construction on the long-awaited Riverway Drive Stage 2 upgrade has begun, but concerns persist about congestion relief as the development of an alternative route through Kelso remains in limbo.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper will mark the start of the $95 million infrastructure project with a ceremonial sod-turning on Friday.

The project will upgrade a 3.1km stretch of Riverway Drive, including widening 1.6km between Allambie Lane and Hammond Way to four lanes, aimed at easing congestion for over 17,000 Upper Ross motorists during peak hours.

Along with the widening, a 1.5km section between Hammond Way and Dunlop Street will receive key safety improvements, such as new centre median treatments, better right-turn lanes, and new traffic signals at intersections like Rosewood Ave, Buunong Ave, Yut Fay Ave, and Ponti Road.

Riverway Drive stage 2 (Allambie Lane to Dunlop Street) location map. Source: TMR

Pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users will also benefit from enhanced connectivity along Riverway Drive, and public transport infrastructure will be upgraded as well.

BMD has been awarded the contract to deliver the project, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments —$76 million from the federal government and $19 million from the state government.

The project is expected to support 140 direct jobs during construction.

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper and the Department of Transport and Main Roads said the $95 million Riverway Drive Stage 2 upgrade will not only ease traffic but also improve safety. Picture: Supplied

While the upgrade promises to improve traffic flow and safety, questions remain over the lack of an alternative route to ease congestion during construction.

Mr Harper has called on Townsville City Council to agree to develop a much-needed alternative road through Kelso to provide relief for motorists while work on Riverway Dr is underway.

Last month, he criticised the council for delaying its acceptance of an $8 million offer from the state government to develop an 850m dirt road to connect Shetland Place to Allambie Lane, providing an alternative to Riverway Drive.

The dirt road in question: Townsville City Council's document of the site of Shetland Place and Allambie Lane in Kelso. Picture: Townsville City Council

However, the council has hesitated after a report estimated the project would cost at least $14 million due to the removal of power infrastructure.

With construction now underway, residents are closely watching to see if the council will step in and help alleviate congestion by moving forward with the Kelso road development.

Meanwhile, early works, including Ergon’s preparations and the Townsville City Council’s Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Renewal project, were completed in June, clearing the way for the Riverway Drive Stage 2 upgrade to proceed.

Originally published as Riverway Drive stage 2 upgrade kicks off amid concerns over traffic relief