Ipswich City Council has identified the preferred option for the future four-lane upgrade of Redbank Plains Road between the Cunningham Highway and Collingwood Drive.
A report presented to the Growth and Infrastructure Committee concerning the outcomes of a corridor planning study for the fourth stage of the Redbank Plains Road corridor upgrade has been noted by council.
Council’s Manager Infrastructure Strategy Tony Dileo said the first two stages of the major upgrade project have been completed with the third stage due to commence construction next financial year.
He said stage four is a 3.2km section of road and would see the construction of a new dual carriageway four lane road, including traffic signals at key intersections, pedestrian and cycle facilities and the duplication of the existing bridge over Six Mile Creek. It is estimated that the project will cost about $60 million.
“Redbank Plains Road is a strategically important arterial road between the Cunningham Highway and Ipswich Motorway, and also links the Ipswich CBD to Redbank Plains, Springfield and Goodna,” Mr Dileo said.
“To accommodate the forecast population and employment growth, iGO (council’s masterplan for Ipswich’s transport future) identifies the need for Redbank Plains Road to be upgraded for road capacity, connectivity and safety purposes. This section of Redbank Plains Road is currently a rural road configuration, which has come under increasing pressure from urban developments in recent years, resulting in a significant increase in traffic volumes and a high number of reported accidents.“
“Council has been progressively planning and implementing the upgrade of Redbank Plains Road in stages.
Stages 1 and 2 between School Road and Keidges Road have been completed, as well as the major intersection upgrade at Redbank Plains Road and Collingwood Drive. Stage 3 from Keidges Road to Kruger Parade is currently in detailed design, with early work anticipated to commence next financial year. Stage 4 of the Redbank Plains Road Upgrade will complete the four-lane arterial link between the Cunningham Highway and Centenary Highway.”
Mr Dileo said Stage 4 also forms part of a future ‘strategic bus corridor’ in iGO and ‘principal cycle route’ outlined in the iGO Active Transport Action Plan and Queensland Government’s Principal Cycle Network Plan.
The section of Redbank Plains Road between the Cunningham Highway and Newhill Drive also forms an important freight connection as it serves as the primary access to the developing Swanbank New Chum Enterprise Park.
“The purpose of the Redbank Plains Road Stage 4 Corridor Planning Study was to determine the future corridor footprint and the construction order of cost for an ‘interim’ road upgrade of Redbank Plains Road to a four lane urban arterial standard from the Cunningham Highway to Collingwood Drive (referred to as Stage 4A) and a longer term ‘ultimate’ road upgrade to six lanes from the Cunningham Highway to Newhill Drive (referred to as Stage 4B),” he said.
“Outcomes of the Redbank Plains Road corridor planning study will form the basis for future detailed design and construction activities and will be used to inform council’s development assessment and investment programming activities. Based on the current investment planning the construction of the Redbank Plains Road Stage 4A upgrade is identified as a medium term project.”
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>>>Changes ahead for motorists and residents with Redbank Plains Road upgrade
I travel RBP road at all times of the day and night and there are never any bike riders at any time