Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road, Yeppoon Road Upgrade Project

Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road is a regional road linking the Capricorn Coast, including tourist locations, such as Great Keppel Island to Rockhampton and beyond. 

The road forms part of the designated state freight network and fulfils an important role in supporting defence, forestry, freight, tourism and commuter traffic demands in the region.

This project is part of the Australian and Queensland governments' 10-year Roads of Strategic Importance corridor investment. The initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and connectivity of key freight roads, particularly those connecting agricultural regions, ports, airports and other transport hubs and provide better access for sectors like tourism and mining. 

Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road is approximately 35.6km in length, with 2 distinct sections:

  • a 4.03km section traversing the Rockhampton Central Business District urban area (Fitzroy Street, Queen Elizabeth Drive and Musgrave Street)
  • a 31.6km section from the Bruce Highway intersection in Parkhurst to Tanby Road roundabout at Yeppoon (rural area).

The section from the Bruce Highway to the Tanby Road roundabout is made up of a 4-lane section and a 2-lane section for the remainder of the road from Ironpot through to the Tanby Road roundabout.

Current traffic volumes on this section of the Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road range between 10,700 and 11,600 vehicles per day, which includes approximately 1000 heavy vehicles.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Increases traffic flow
  • Reduces peak hour congestion
  • Improves flood immunity
  • Better road access
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth
  • Better active transport
  • Reduces maintenance

Key features

  • Widen to 4 lanes between Ironpot and Hedlow Creek.
  • Rationalise private accesses onto Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road.
  • Realign Old Byfield Road connection onto Artillery Road.
  • Provide left-in and left-out access at both Artillery Road and Dairy Inn Road.
  • Construct U-turn facilities east and west of the Artillery Road and Dairy Inn Road intersection with protected right turns into Artillery Road and Dairy Inn Road.
  • Include extensive storage and deceleration facilities at the protected right turns into Artillery Road and Dairy Inn Road. 
  • Provide through movements from side roads with the use of a modified left-out U-turn combination that has extensive vehicle storage and deceleration facilities. 
  • Upgrade the Cabbage Tree Creek Road and Iron Pot Road intersections with dedicated protected left and right turn lanes. 
  • Incorporate safe roadway design including recoverable batters, barriers (guardrails) and clear zone clearing. 
  • Provide a 2.5m wide shoulder to facilitate on-road bicycle riding. 

Funding

The Australian Government and Queensland Government are funding the project. Project scope, cost and timing are subject to further consideration and negotiation with the Australian Government.  Investment ID 1192019.

A revised project cost of $107 million was announced on 22 December 2023.

Funding figures as at QTRIP 2023-24 to 2026-27 (June 2023).

Total investment
$85.4 million
Australian Government
$64 million
Queensland Government
$21.4 million

Project timeline

  • July to August 2020: Community consultation to identify community priorities for targeted upgrades.
  • February 2021 to March 2022: Detailed design.
  • April 2023: Construction contract awarded to Civil Mining and Construction Pty Ltd.
  • June 2023: Construction started.

Current status

Detailed design was completed in March 2022. The construction contract was awarded to Civil Mining and Construction Pty Ltd in April 2023. Construction commenced in in June 2023.

Consultation 

Community consultation, using an online engagement platform, was completed in August 2020 to understand the Central Queensland community's priorities for the Yeppoon Road Upgrade. The community priorities were safety, local access and connection, network reliability and efficiency, which have informed the scope of works. 

Information sessions were held at Yeppoon Central Shopping Centre and Stocklands, Rockhampton in February and March 2023 to inform community and stakeholders about the final design layout.

For more information please visit the Yeppoon Road Upgrade page on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website.

Rockhampton—Yeppoon Road, Yeppoon Road upgrade project location map

Yeppoon Road Upgrade project location map.

  1. Location of Rockhampton—Yeppoon Road, Yeppoon Road upgrade project between Ironpot and Hedlow Creek.