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Townsville Southern AccessCorridor Study
Route Recommendation (Summary)July 2009
C & G HORMAN PTY LTDConsulting Engineers and Planners
Executive summary
The purpose of the Southern Access Corridor(SAC) study is to identify the long-term roadcorridor requirements necessary toaccommodate the expected future developmentin Townsville's southern corridor, which extends22 kilometres, from Cluden to Killymoon Creek.
Three options for the development of the BruceHighway, with connections to existing and futuredevelopment areas, were examined in detail.These were the Existing Alignment, SeparateAlignment, and the Hybrid Alignment Options.
After a comprehensive community engagementprocess, involvement of key stakeholders, andconsideration of technical, social andenvironmental aspects, the Hybrid Alignmentemerged as the preference strongly favoured byboth stakeholders and the study team.
The Southern Corridor study team hasrecommended that the Department of Transportand Main Roads adopt the Hybrid Alignment andthis is currently under consideration.
The Hybrid Alignment provides for four to sixfreeway-standard lanes from Cluden toKillymoon Creek.
The alignment follows the existing highway fromCluden to Julago. From Julago to KillymoonCreek it deviates from the existing highway andruns along the eastern side of the QueenslandRail Main Northern Line. The existing highwayconverts to an arterial road where the newhighway deviates, servicing existing and futuredevelopment in the corridor.
Interchanges connecting to the Hybrid Alignmentare located at Cluden, Townsville Port AccessRoad (TPAR), western and eastern connectionsto Rocky Springs and at Bentley Drive.
A comprehensive service road network willprovide access for abutting land including theTownsville State Development Area (TSDA).
The Hybrid Alignment provides the best overalloutcome in terms of town planning, trafficefficiency and social impact.
,BE, MIE Aust, Dip T&RP, RPEQC&G Horman Pty LtdConsulting Engineers & Planners
Colin B Horman
RecommendationStudy area
Traffic growth
The SAC study investigated the defining features ofthe current Bruce Highway south of Townsville fromits intersection with Stuart Drive to Killymoon Creek,to design an effective and efficient road transportnetwork for the area, and to identify the landrequired to secure the future route.
These features include the Muntalunga Range tothe east of the existing road, Three Sisters Range tothe west, Queensland Rail's main north-south railline, existing residential development (Cluden,Julago, Nome, Serene Valley and Alligator Creek),the Woongarra Crematorium and a flood-pronecreek network.
These features were taken into consideration in thedesign of the preferred alignment.
The study has also incorporated the timing andrelative impact from differing development scenarioson traffic growth in the area – notably the RockySprings and Whites Plains areas. The route andconfiguration has been based on the most likelylevel of development within and around the studyarea, and is independent of individual planneddevelopments.
At present, the Southern Access Corridor has atraffic volume of about 5,000 vehicles per day (vpd)at its southern end and 12,000 vpd at its northernend near the intersection with Abbott Street. Thereare currently 8,000 vpd movements generated fromthe residential communities of Julago, Nome,Serene Valley and Alligator Creek as well as fromindustry in the TSDA.
Assuming standard traffic growth in the area, thecurrent highway would need to be upgraded to fourlanes within the next 30 years to manage capacity.
Note: The preferred alignment recommended by theproject team has undergone specialist trafficmodelling analysis, which confirms theappropriateness of the scale and configuration ofthe Hybrid Alignment for this section of the highway.
A number of planned developments have beenidentified within the study area. Thesedevelopments would have significant impacts ontraffic through the corridor. These include:
The Rocky Springs and surroundingdevelopments could add up to 80,000 vpd to theroad network over the next 35 years, directlyfeeding onto the Bruce Highway and theFlinders Highway near Oak Valley.
Development of the Townsville Port AccessRoad (TPAR) will create a new intersection withthe Bruce Highway and has the potential to alterthe flow of heavy vehicle traffic.
Industrial growth from current and potentialoperations in the TSDA will increase demand foraccess within the corridor.
Residential growth in the Julago, Nome, SereneValley and Alligator Creek communities are nowbelieved to be receiving access to town watersupplies. Estimates by Townsville City Council(TCC) are that density could increase by 300 to400 per cent within this study's planning horizon.
The Whites Plains area, currently largely underbroad acre pastoral use, has the potential todevelop into a residential area. Estimates byTownsville City Council show this area couldyield 13,000 properties and generate up to87,000 vpd into the corridor.
Successful development of the Southern AccessCorridor and linkage into the Townsville RingRoad will create a continuous, appropriate andsafe motorway-standard link from the southernto northern limits of the city.
The study team recommends the Hybrid Alignmentas detailed in route description below.
This recommendation has undergone significantpeer review, confirmation of assumptions,refinement of the previous preferred option, andstakeholder consultation.
Following announcement of the preferred alignmentin December 2008, the study team sought to furthertest their recommendation over three months, fromJanuary 2009 to March 2009.
Testing included:
Reporting the recommended route alignment tostakeholders through a process including publicdisplays, distribution of plans and reports, andindividual meetings.
Seeking stakeholder input on the process anddecision, as well as identifying opportunities forrefinement.
Assembling, analysing and integrating input fromthe formal consultation period into an annotatedassessment of the preferred alignment.
Testing the alignment
Where possible and appropriate, refining therecommended route alignment and reportingthese refinements back to affectedstakeholders.
Providing details of the preferred alignmentand all input from the formal consultationperiod into a final formal study report to theDepartment of Transport and Main Roads foradoption.
During the final consultation phase to test therecommended alignment, 42 submissions andrequests for design review were received. Allsubmissions were assessed, integrated into thebroader analysis and responses provided.
Requests for design review focussed on:
Access to Cluden area to be improvedthrough linkage of Minehane Street to TPARvia the existing Stuart Creek Bridge andservice roads.
Clarity on the TSDA service road network.This has now been resolved.
Improved southern access to TSDAincluding the design for a possible overpassof Vantassel Street.
Reduction in corridor width along SunnysideStreet. This has since been completed.
Southern access for Sunnyside Street. Thishas since been found not to be possible ordesirable.
Review of access and service road networkin the Bentley Drive area. This has sincebeen resolved.
Reduction in numbers of open level railcrossings. This has since been resolved.
In the Hybrid Alignment, grade separatedcrossings will be provided at Jurekey Street,Julago Cattle Yards, Southwood Road,Sunnyside Street, between Julago andSerene Valley, and Bentley Drive. A newlevel crossing will be built on the JulagoCattle Yards Spur Line which will includeactive protection. The open level crossingsat Jurekey Street, Julago Cattle Yards SpurLine, Sunnyside Street, Serene Valley,Nome Road, and Bentley Drive will beclosed.
Submissions and alignmentrefinements
Route description
The recommended Hybrid Alignment retains thebulk of the current Bruce Highway alignment forlocal access and creates a new separatehighway and arterial capacity within a newcorridor seaward of the existing railway line.
The alignment will ultimately provide:
Grade separation of the Flinders highway,Lakeside Boulevard and the dual rail lines inthe Cluden area.
Grade separation of the TPAR/StuartBypass interchange.
Possible overpass of Vantassel Street.
Two freeway-standard access points to theRocky Springs area.
A further interchange to service likely growthin the Whites Plains area.
This alignment allows the current highway toremain largely unchanged to continue to servelocal needs (including bicycle, pedestrian andpublic transport) with the bulk of highway trafficredirected onto new freeway-standard roads.
The route and configuration described below isthe ultimate development of the corridor, whichwill be progressively delivered in stages.
Note: Description of numbers of lanes indicatesthe total number of lanes, with half running ineach direction: “six lanes” indicates three lanesrunning in each direction.
Flinders Highway to Vantassel Street
The initial section of the preferred alignment betweenthe intersection of the Bruce and Flinders Highwaysand Vantassel Street has previously undergonesignificant detailed planning and consultation throughother projects including the TPAR/Stuart Bypass andAbbott Street Deviation. This planning has beenaccepted and integrated into this recommendation.
Notable features of this section will include:
Design capacity for a minimum 80,000 vpd,ultimately with three freeway-standard lanes ineach direction (six in total) supported by anenhanced local road network.
Grade-separated interchanges and dividedcarriageway to allow continuous 100 kphoperation and a seamless integration into thebroader Townsville Ring Road network to providean unimpeded high-speed link through the city ofTownsville.
Ultimate redevelopment of the Flinders Highwayintersection into a grade-separated interchange.This will be the subject of future detailedplanning.
Deviation of the existing Abbott Street to theLakeside Drive link (Abbott Street Deviation),incorporating grade-separated interchanges androundabouts to service both Fairfield Waters andthe Townsville Turf Club.
Overpass of the Queensland Rail Main NorthernLine at Jurekey Street.
Closure of existing Jurekey Street and AbbottStreet intersections with local traffic access via a
new local road linking Lakeside Drive withRacecourse Road and Jurekey Street. Rail andhighway crossings will ultimately be grade-separated.
Development of higher-level bridging of StuartCreek including flood mitigation measures. Adetailed flood study of Stuart Creek has beencarried out as part of this study and options havebeen identified to improve the flood immunity ofthe Bruce Highway at Stuart Creek.
The new Bruce Highway alignment closelyfollows the current alignment to Vantassel Streetand takes into consideration the improved floodimmunity and greater corner radius required toenhance the road performance.
Retain access to Heleen Downs Station, StuartDrive-In site and Magnetic Gateway HolidayVillage with alternate access to be provided via aservice road using the existing highway andStuart Creek Bridge to link with elements of theTSDA. This will also become part of a widerpedestrian and cycle network for the corridor.
Acquisition of the Townsville Enterprise LimitedInformation Centre.
Ultimate grade-separated interchange with TPAR.
Closure of current Hunter Street and ZincAvenue/Vantassel Street intersections to theBruce Highway with alternate access via aservice road network linking elements of theTSDA. Possible underpass of the new BruceHighway at Vantassel Street linking the existinghighway and the TSDA service road network.
Vantassel Street to Sunnyside Street
Design capacity for a minimum 80,000 vpd,ultimately with six freeway-standard lanes fromVantassel Street and a point outbound of theSouthwood Road rail overpass.
When required by future development in thearea, a major interchange will split four lanescarrying approximately 32,000 vpd into theRocky Springs area through the currentTownsville Prison Farm. Four lanes (carryingapproximately 20,000 vpd made up of RockySprings and Highway through traffic) will followthe existing rail line towards the MuntalungaRange and joins the existing Sunnyside Streetalignment seaward of the existing rail line.
Following the existing Sunnyside Streetalignment, four freeway-standard lanes skirtthe foothills of the Muntalunga Range, beforesplitting again at a grade-separatedinterchange approximately mid-way betweenthe communities of Julago and Serene Valley.
Four arterial-standard lanes cross the existingQueensland Rail Main Northern Line and carrytraffic to a second access into the RockySprings area. Ultimate alignment andconfiguration of internal elements of this linkwill rest with developers and land owners aspart of internal road planning processes.
A new service road linking the TSDA andQueensland Rail Julago Cattle Yards(potentially extended to Barnham Road) will bedeveloped to maintain access to SunnysideStreet properties. This road crosses theQueensland Rail Julago Sale Yards rail sidingwhich will require active protection.
Sunnyside Street to Bentley Drive
Bentley Drive to Killymoon Creek
Development of a new highway corridorwhich splits from the second Rocky Springsinterchange to carry through traffic. Designfor two freeway-standard lanes (with formalpassing lanes) with corridor width able toaccommodate an additional two lanes (atotal of two lanes in each direction) ifrequired by future development in the area.This alignment follows the foothills of theMuntalunga Range on the eastern side ofthe existing rail line.
Provision has been made in design and landacquisition considerations for an interchangeat a point where the existing Barnham Roadreserve intersects with the rail line adjacentto the previous Nome Railway Station. Thislinkage has been considered to satisfypotential future growth in the Whites Plainarea and is identified as a possible futureaction by others as it is not required for thehighway to function effectively.
A new arterial road would link theinterchange to the junction of Barnham Roadand Bentley Drive and a service road will linkthe “Hannon Homestead” to the interchangeto allow for ultimate closure of the at graderail crossing currently serving this property.The existing rail crossing at Nome Road willbe closed.
Two freeway-standard lanes cross BentleyDrive directly adjacent to the existing rail line(corridor width able to accommodate anadditional two lanes). Bentley Drive toultimately be grade-separated to overpassboth the new highway and the rail line.
Two freeway-standard lanes continue tofollow the rail line before following anexisting road easement on the seawardboundary of Lot 1 RP703035 beforecrossing Alligator Creek on a new bridgeabove the Q50 flood level. Note that corridorwidth would allow for an additional two lanesand duplication of the Alligator Creek bridgeif required in the future.
Two freeway-standard lanes continue on thisalignment before rejoining the existinghighway at a new grade separatedinterchange just north of Killymoon Creek.
A new service road will be developedbetween Whites Creek and the rail line toprovide access to properties currently servedby an easement alongside the rail line.
Current highway
Maintenance of the current highway throughout itscurrent length as a lower-speed local feeder roadlinking access points to the new highwayalignment.
Retain Stuart Creek Bridge with a service roadusing the existing highway and Stuart CreekBridge to link with elements of the TSDA forCluden, Magnetic Gateway Holiday Village, StuartDrive-In and Heleen Downs Station. Pedestrianand cycle access will also be enhanced.
The option exists for the new Bruce Highway tooverpass Vantassel Street to allow linking of theexisting highway and the TSDA service roadnetwork.
The existing Bruce Highway between VantasselStreet and Lowe Road will be converted to aservice road providing access to Lowe Road, thecrematorium and Townsville Prison Farm.
A future major interchange into the Rocky Springsarea through the current Townsville Prison Farmwill overpass the highway and not impede trafficflow on the existing highway.
A major new signalised intersection betweenJulago and Serene Valley will carry traffic to andfrom the Rocky Springs area from the nearbySunnyside Street interchange across the currenthighway. This will allow local traffic from theJulago, Serene Valley and Alligator Creek areas toeasily access the high-speed motorway link fortransit to and from Townsville.
The section of the current highway between theanticipated location of the second Rocky Springsentrance and the Allendale Drive/Bentley Driveintersection may approach its design capacityafter the end of this project's planning life, andinvestigation has shown the current corridor wouldaccommodate an additional lane in each directionwith minimal future land acquisition.
Redevelopment of existing highway intersectionsincluding:
Closure of Hunter Street and ZincAvenue/Vantassel Street at gradeintersections with alternate access via theTSDA service road network, including apossible underpass to link the existinghighway to Vantassel Street.
Creation of a new service road for theTownsville Prison Farm.
Upgrade of Lowe Road intersection andcurrent Crematorium access.
Closure of the current Julago Streetintersection with safer access provided viaCoast and Lowe roads.
Upgrade of current Muntalunga Drive,Allendale Drive and Bentley Drive accesses.
Upgrade of current Alligator Creek Road,Williams Road and Tindall Court access incontrolled T-junctions.
Marron Road intersection will remain unchangedunless additional residential development requires italso to be upgraded to a controlled T-junction.
Minimising the acquisition of privately owned land,especially residential property, has been a guidingconsideration in the design of the recommendedroute for the SAC.
The bulk of the land required is drawn from existinggovernment holdings or from three major largelyundeveloped pastoral properties.
Small proportions of properties owned by 27 privatelandowners will be required. Two residentialproperties are recommended for total acquisition.
Now that this report and recommended route hasbeen presented to the Department of Transport andMain Roads, it will undergo an internal process ofreview before being approved.
Acquisition requirements
Next steps
Once approved, an initial parcel (likely to includethe section from the junction of the FlindersHighway to the vicinity of Vantassel Street) willprogress towards preparation of a fully-costedbusiness case to allow a budget to be set fordetailed design and construction.
The project will then be progressed as part ofthe department's integrated RoadsImplementation Program (RIP).
Timing for these steps is uncertain, and will bedependant on factors including project priority,available funding, and the progression ofresidential development in the area.
With the presentation to the Department ofTransport and Main Roads of this report, thework of the Southern Access Corridor (SAC)study team is complete.
Manager (Network Planning andPerformance) Department of Transport and MainRoads – TownsvillePhone: (07) 4720 7332Email: [email protected]
Principal Property Officer,Property Services, Finance and FacilitiesDivision, Department of Transport and MainRoadsPhone: (07) 3834 2418Email: [email protected]
Future project contacts
Future information on the status of thisproject may be obtained by contacting:Craig Caton:
For information on property-related matters,please contact:Terry Goddard:
