Peak Downs Highway (Clermont - Nebo), various locations (Wolfang), rehabilitate and widen

The Wolfang project upgrades 3km of highway. The Wolfang Road intersection project upgrades the right turn onto Wolfang Road and 2 informal stopping bays.

The Peak Downs Highway is considered as a key strategic freight route of national significance and is recognised by the Department of Transport and Main Roads' (TMR) Moving Freight Strategy as a critical link supporting the mining and agricultural sectors. It is the principal road freight route supporting mining activities in the Bowen Basin, connecting the area to both the Port of Mackay and to the regional service centre of Emerald.

More than 250,000 tonnes of freight, valued at $600 million, is moved on the Peak Downs Highway per year between Moranbah and Clermont.

The Wolfang project will upgrade 3 sections of the highway to improve road user safety by increasing separation between heavy vehicles and other road users, increasing recovery area for errant vehicles and improving pavement protection.

The Wolfang Road intersection project will upgrade the right turn onto Wolfang Road, to reduce the likelihood of collision with heavy vehicles and improve 2 informal stopping bays to a safer standard.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Better road access
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth
  • Reduces maintenance
  • Improves ride quality

Key features

  • Improve safety by increasing the separation between heavy vehicles and other road users.
  • Improve freight efficiency by extending the use of Type 2 road trains and reducing delays associated with oversize-overmass vehicles.
  • Reduce maintenance costs.

Funding

The Wolfang pavement strengthening and widening project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on a 50:50 basis. Investment ID 456539

The Wolfang Road west intersection upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis.

Total investment
$11.5 million
Australian Government
$7.4 million
Queensland Government
$4.1 million

Current status

The Peak Downs Highway (Clermont – Nebo) strengthening and widening project will widen 3.15km of the Peak Downs Highway to 9m, consistent with a Type 1 (PBS Level 3) nationally accredited Key Freight Route. The proposed 9m sealed road formation includes 3.5m-wide traffic lanes and 1m-wide shoulders.

Work is underway and is due for completion in late 2021.

Project map

Map showing the project area on the Peak Downs Highway