Townsville Ring Road contract awarded amid the $1.5B project pipeline

A contract has been awarded for the $230 million Townsville Ring Road Stage Five project as the $1.5 billion project pipeline for North Queensland progresses.

The Georgiou, AECOM consortium will build Stage Five of the ring road. This was announced alongside the beginning of early works on the Bruce Highway – Townsville Northern Access Intersections Upgrade project.

These projects are expected to deliver a total of around 560 jobs as they move into construction.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said major construction for both projects was on track to begin next year.

“The Townsville Northern Access Intersections Upgrade project will duplicate 5.2 kilometres of the Bruce Highway, including a new bridge over Black River, while the Stage 5 project will complete the four-laning of the 22-kilometre Townsville Ring Road,” McCormack said.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said creating a multi-billion-dollar pipeline of road projects in Townsville would create jobs, drive safety and accommodate the region’s burgeoning freight and business community.

“We’re building the $514.3 million Bruce Highway upgrade through Haughton River, creating over 540 jobs, the biggest ever overhaul of Northern Australia’s largest port creating 125 jobs, and now we’re securing more jobs and improved safety with the next tranche of road upgrades in North Queensland,” Bailey said.

Executive General Manager Eastern Region Gary Georgiou said our team has a long and successful history working with DTMR. We look forward to showcasing our design and construction expertise while providing this vital infrastructure link to the local community.

State Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said more than 90 per cent of Transport and Main Roads works were carried out by Queensland companies and the overall North Queensland roads and transport program supported 21,500 Queensland jobs, including vital jobs in Townsville.

“Despite COVID-19, our region is riding the wave of a roads bonanza with more than $1.5 billion in projects injecting money into the bank accounts of local businesses,” Harper said.

“The 395 jobs from the ring road project could not come at a better time for Townsville as it continues to respond to the economic impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. These projects are being built by the north for the north and will bust congestion, make our roads safer and get people and freight where they need to go.”

Design will commence immediately and construction is expected to start on the ring road in mid-2021 with completion expected for early 2023.

The project is jointly funded, with the Federal Government committing $184 million and the Queensland Government committing $46 million.

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