More than $16 million will be invested into floodproofing the Toowoomba CBD through culvert upgrades to the Warrego Highway at East and West Creeks.
The upgrade aims to keep the road open during wet weather and improve its protection against flooding during more serious rain events.
On average, between 16,000 and 21,900 vehicles use these parts of the highway daily, with almost a quarter of these being heavy vehicles.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the upgraded culverts would help guard against one-in-100-year flood events and further improve the flow of the creeks from works that have already been completed upstream.
“We all know what an impact the 2011 floods had throughout Toowoomba’s CBD and I am pleased we are working together to better protect the city in the future,” Mr Bailey said.
Federal Member for Groom John McVeigh said Toowoomba Regional Council was to be congratulated for the work it had already completed to better protect Toowoomba’s CBD from flooding.
“Keeping James Street safe and accessible during heavy rain is a very important investment in keeping our community connected in times of crisis as we saw back in 2011,” Dr McVeigh said.
“The upgrade to culverts on James Street, at Kitchener Street and beside the PCYC, are the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle and will complete Toowoomba’s major overhaul of flood mitigation measures throughout the city.”
Construction is expected to start by mid-2019 and be completed by late 2020, weather permitting.
The Federal Government has committed a total of $13.52 million to fund the $16.9 million Warrego Highway – West Creek and East Creek Culvert Upgrades, in partnership with the Queensland Government.
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