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
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 announcedJune 2016
Start of tendering phaseNovember 2016
Start of early worksApril 2017
Contract awarded and start of detailed designLate October 2017
Start of constructionMid-2018
Detailed design completeJuly 2018
Announcement of inclusion of Boundary Road ConnectionEarly 2021
Officially open 27 April 2021Ipswich Motorway Upgrade Rocklea to Darra Stage 1 project
Please note: Subject to change. Correct at time of publishing, March 2019.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.