New England Highway (Yarraman - Toowoomba), Back Creek Bridge, upgrade bridge and approaches, design
The Queensland Government is committed to improving safety and efficiency on the New England Highway at Cooyar.
The New England Highway is a key transport corridor in Southern Queensland, carrying significant volumes of traffic, including freight, and serving as an essential link for local communities and industries, particularly livestock supply chains.
The project involves replacing the last remaining single-lane bridge on the New England Highway with a modern two-lane bridge. This upgrade will address long-standing safety concerns, improve network efficiency, and provide better access for all road users.
Benefits
- Improves safety
- Improves network efficiency
- Increases traffic flow
- Better road access
- Contributes to economy
- Contributes to regional growth
Key features
- Replace Back Creek Bridge with a new 2-lane bridge, including upgrading approaches.
- Upgrade the New England Highway and Cooyar–Rangemore Road intersection to improve safety and meet the alignment of the new bridge.
- Improve safety at the New England Highway, McDougall and Fergus streets intersection .
- Upgrade heavy vehicles stopping places on the New England Highway in Cooyar.
Funding
Investment ID: 3742443.
The project is funded under the Queensland Government’s Bridge Upgrade Program.
Current status
The current status of the Back Creek Bridge upgrade project is as follows:
- Planning: Completed in late 2025.
- Design Phase: Currently in progress, with detailed design work underway. The design phase is expected to be completed by early 2027.
- Construction Start: Scheduled to commence in mid-2027.
Community consultation
The project team is actively engaging with the local community, residents, property owners and businesses about the project, its benefits and potential impacts.
Project map
