$80m road upgrade to start soon
Construction of the $80 million Youngs Crossing Road upgrade is expected to start in the next few months.
A report to Moreton Bay City Council said the contract is likely to be awarded “very soon” with work, spanning more than a kilometre, to start in mid-2025.
One of Council's biggest road projects is expected to last two years with a new 212-metre bridge and upgraded road open around June 2027.
Funding has come from the Federal Government ($32.73m), Moreton Bay City Council ($32.25m) and the Queensland Government ($15m).
An upgraded Youngs Crossing Road corridor across North Pine River, is “crucial to transport services in our region” says Council.
It will improve “flood immunity” during water releases from North Pine Dam, just a couple of kilometres upstream.
The huge project will also prepare for increased traffic volumes as the population in Moreton Bay region's west increases.
When complete the upgrade will end years of political lobbying and campaigns to find and fund a permanent solution for the river crossing.
As recently as 2022, Youngs Crossing Rd was closed for 16 successive days during rain and floods. There were eight closures in 2021.
Early work has seen Old Petrie Town's internal road upgraded. Partial sewer relocations by Merv Ewart Reserve are set to be completed by Unitywater next month.
This month, NBN is scheduled to start partial telecommunication relocations and Energex will install electrical conduits under North Pine River, Sideling Creek and Youngs Crossing Rd.
These are expected to take 12 weeks with most work between 7am and 6pm Monday-Friday, with one week of nightworks. Speed limits in the area will be 40km/h.
For further information visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Projects/Roads/Youngs-Crossing
Key features:
- Protheroe Road signalised intersection to increase safety and assist traffic flows.
- Access to Youngs Crossing Park will be maintained via a four-way signalised intersection.
- U-turn capability to assist Pony Club access via Youngs Crossing Road.
- Lookout platform.
- Existing Youngs Crossing will remain open to pedestrians/cyclists and link to Merv Ewart Reserve via new path under bridge.
- Fauna refuge poles, rope canopy connections and fauna rails to assist fauna movement.
- Retention of two large fig trees at the water hole.
- Koala exclusion fencing to restrict road access.
- Piers and piles designed to minimise hydraulic impacts to Sideling Creek, Pine Rivers Pony Club and Dayboro Road.
- New Pine Rivers Pony Club entry.
- Improved culvert crossing at Sideling Creek to enhance water and fish movement.
- With the new bridge running west of the existing roadway, construction work can largely occur offline in stages, minimising disruptions, alterations and temporary works.
- Extensive landscaping and tree planting along new alignment (areas shaded green).
- Upgrade to Dayboro Road intersection to a improve safety and traffic flow.