Ipswich Motorway—Rocklea to Darra - Stage 1 (Granard Road to Oxley Road)

The eastern end of the Ipswich Motorway has been upgraded between Rocklea and Darra in a staged approach delivering value for money on one of Queensland's major motorways.

Rocklea to Darra – Stage 1 is the 3km upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway between Granard Road, Rocklea, and Oxley Road, Oxley.

Rocklea to Darra - Stage 1 covers a 3km section of the Ipswich Motorway from Granard Road, Rocklea to just east of the Oxley Road Interchange, Oxley. This was identified as the next most critical section of the remaining 7km of the Ipswich Motorway still to be upgraded. In July 2018, the scope of the Stage 1 project changed to include the Boundary Road Connection. This involved design and construction of a 1.5km missing link from the existing Boundary Road east of Oxley Creek to the existing Boundary Road at the Blunder Road intersection west of Oxley Creek. Delivered within the committed $400 million funding.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Improves flood immunity
  • Better active transport
  • Contributes to economy

Key features

Rocklea to Darra - Stage 1 includes:

  • upgrading the motorway from 4 to 6 lanes
  • higher bridges over Oxley Creek, including 7 new bridges
  • new 1.5km Boundary Road Connection Road linking Boundary Road, Rocklea across the Oxley floodplain through to the Blunder Road intersection at Oxley
  • new northern service road over the Oxley Creek floodplain
  • new traffic signals at the Suscatand Street intersection
  • new one-way left-turn connection road from Granard Road to the Ipswich Road service road.
  • Over 6.5km of active transport facilities.

Funding

Total investment
$400 million
Australian Government
$200 million
Queensland Government
$200 million

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade design map

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade design map March 2019

Sustainability

The Australian Government and Queensland Governments are committed to managing the design and construction of the project in a manner that fully considers environmental outcomes and supports an ecologically sustainable development. Sustainable outcomes including considering the motorway’s neighbours, reducing waste and thinking long term will be a focus for the project during design and construction. To achieve these outcomes, the project is aiming to meet the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) rating of ‘excellent’. During the design and construction of this project we will:

  • improve safety and efficiency of the motorway network
  • minimise disruption to traffic during construction
  • support and be responsive to the needs of stakeholders and the local community
  • implement effective management systems for workplace health and safety, environment, sustainability and quality management
  • minimise negative impacts on the environment associated with the project
  • maintain air, water and land quality by reducing and eliminating harmful emissions
  • reduce energy, water and waste during the design and construction phases
  • support local industry participation and provide workforce development opportunities
  • engage suppliers and sub-contractors who can demonstrate environmental credentials.

Project timeline

March 2016

Project announced

June 2016

Start of tendering phase

November 2016

Start of early works

April 2017

Contract awarded and start of detailed design

Late October 2017

Start of construction

Mid-2018

Detailed design complete

July 2018

Announcement of inclusion of Boundary Road Connection

Early 2021

Officially open 27 April 2021

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade Rocklea to Darra Stage 1 project

Please note: Subject to change. Correct at time of publishing, March 2019.
Video Transcript

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Rocklea to Darra – Stage 1 project


Map showing the full extent of the project

Zoom, on the map, to the Granard Road end of the project

View changes from static map to a computer generated view of what the Granard Road intersection will look like at completion of the project, expected late 2020.

Looking westbound along the motorway towards Ipswich, this view shows Granard Road, Ashover Road and the extent of the project off in the distance.

Fly over the Granard Road intersection to zoom in showing the upgraded Granard Road entry ramp; the new access from Granard Road to Ipswich Motorway Northern Service Road and the two way separated cycle facility running adjacent to the Northern Service Road.

Fly further through the project, heading west towards Ipswich to near Grindle Road. This shows the start of the upgrade from 4 to 6 lanes on the motorway.

Move along the motorway to an aerial view of Suscatand and Randolph Streets intersections.

Labels showing upgrade to the entry and exit ramps at Randolph Street; the installation of signals for improved safety at Suscatand Street and the continuation of the two way separated cycle facility.

Move along the motorway, heading towards Ipswich, pausing to show the existing Donaldson Road overpass and moving to an aerial view of just west of the overpass and showing the continuation of the two way separated cycle facility.

Aerial view showing the permanent closures of the Donaldson Road exit and ramp the Boundary Road exit and entry ramps.

Move along the motorway, towards Ipswich and pause over the Oxley Creek flood plain

New inbound and outbound services road on both side across Oxley Creek and an aerial view of the shared pedestrian and cyclist pathway.

Fly over Oxley Creek and the floodplain – labels showing the new service road bridges and higher motorway bridges and the upgrade pedestrian and cyclist underpass.

Move off to the side and follow the new Boundary Road Connection though to the new signalised intersection of Factory Road and Boundary Road, Oxley and the continuation of the shared pedestrian and cyclist pathway.

Continue along Boundary Road Connection to the intersection of Boundary Road and Blunder Road, Oxley to show the upgrade to the existing signalised intersection, including shared pedestrian and cyclist pathway.

Fly back to the Ipswich Motorway and reconnect at Little Doris Creek adjacent to Bannerman Road. Shows the new bridge and upgraded culverts over Little Doris Creek and the continuation of the shared pedestrian and cyclist pathway.

Zoom out to show the aerial view from Little Doris Creek towards the Oxley Roundabout – the end of the motorway works. This view shows the closure of the service road loop from Bannerman Street to the Ipswich Motorway, the upgrade to the Oxley Road entry ramp and the improvements at the Factory Road and Blunder Road intersection.

Moving along the motorway, heading towards Ipswich and showing the new Reedy Road entry ramp, the section of Reedy Road service road which will become one way and the closed Douglas/Rudd Streets exit ramp.

Zoom out and shows a full aerial map of the project and lists a summary of the works that are included in this stage of the upgrade:
  • Upgrading the motorway from 4 to 6 lanes
  • 7 new higher bridges over Oxley Creek floodplain
  • New northern service road and new Boundary Road Connection for improved local connectivity
  • Improved pedestrian and cyclist facilities
  • New one-way service road access from Granard Road
  • New traffic signals at the Suscatand Street intersection
  • Fade to closing screen showing the State and Federal Government logos.

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: fly over new bridges at Oxley and Little Doris Creeks, Oxley

Please note: Subject to change. Correct at time of publishing, March 2019.

Video Transcript

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Rocklea to Darra – Stage 1 project.

Fly over new bridges over Oxley and Little Doris Creeks, Oxley.

View looking west towards Ipswich along the Ipswich Motorway.

Aerial view showing the new Motorway and the north and south service road bridges over Oxley Creek.

Zoom out and fly over travelling along the motorway looking west towards Ipswich.

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade fly over Randolph Suscatand St Intersection Rocklea

Video Transcript

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Rocklea to Darra – Stage 1 project Fly over Randolph/Suscatand Street Intersection.

View looking west towards Ipswich along the Ipswich Motorway from the Randolph/Suscatand Street Intersection, Rocklea.

Randolph Street, Westbound exit ramp.

Aerial view of the upgrades being made to the Randolph/Suscatand Street intersection.

New traffic signals at Suscatand Street Intersection.

Travelling West towards Ipswich along new 6 lane motorway, showing an aerial view of the Randolph/Suscatand Street intersection upgrade.

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade fly over showing the bridge cutaway over Oxley Creek Oxley

Video Transcript

Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Rocklea to Darra – Stage 1 project bridge cutaway over Oxley Creek, Oxley.

View looking east towards Brisbane along the Ipswich Motorway from Oxley Creek.

Shared cycle and pedestrian pathway and new Southern Service Road bridge over Oxley Creek.

Technical specification showing the Building Information Modelling attributes of the design.

View showing the new Ipswich Motorway 6-lane capacity with bridge cutaway view showing girders and piles extending over Oxley Creek.

Flyover the new Northern Service Road bridge and shared pedestrian and cycle pathway over Oxley Creek.