Walkerston Bypass
The Walkerston Bypass will deliver a new 2-lane rural highway to connect Peak Downs Highway west of Walkerston to the Mackay Ring Road near Paget.
Works are underway to widen and strengthen about 14km of the Peak Downs Highway between Clermont and the Peak Downs Mine turnoff in Central Queensland. The project will provide a 9m-wide sealed roadway with 1m-wide road shoulders.
The Peak Downs Highway is a strategic state route used by heavy vehicles associated with mining and agricultural sectors. The section of highway being upgraded is one of the narrowest sections connecting Clermont to Mackay.
Widening the Peak Downs Highway along this section will improve safety by providing wider road shoulders, which motorists may need to use if they:
Widening and strengthening the highway will also help prevent wear and tear on the road edges, improve safety, prolong the life of the road and reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis.
Investment ID 299439
Construction started in March 2021 and is expected to be completed by late 2022.
Multiple sections will be upgraded at the same time along the highway, with each section about 1km long. Two-way traffic flow will be maintained where possible using side-tracks and temporary road widenings. Single-lane operation will be required along large sections of the highway to ensure the safety of road users and roadworkers alike.
Map of the Peak Downs Highway Wuthung Road to Caval Ridge mine turnoff pavement strengthening and widening project which is delivering $35 million worth of road improvements to improve freight movement and road safety.
Last updated: 30 June 2022