General News
12 July, 2024
Umbiram Road should re-open soon
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) anticipates that Umbiram Road between Wyreema and Southbrook could be re-opened for through traffic before the end of this month.
Following the 2022 flood events the Queensland Government established a $10 Million Betterment Fund to enable repair damage to roads and other infrastructure.
This was jointly funded by the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Toowoomba Regional Council was successful in securing funding for nine betterment projects across the region, including the Umbiram Road causeway project, which received funding to allow for an upgrade of the existing damaged infrastructure to a more resilient standard.
Further to these flood repair works Council provided additional funding to improve the road at this location.
Work has been underway on the Umbiram Road floodway since late April with the road expected to reopen this month, weather permitting.
The work is being done to repair the floodway and improve its operation during future heavy rainfall events.
The scope of works includes repair of existing culverts and replacement of the concrete floodway (Council funded) and installation of improved upstream and downstream scour protection to protect it from scouring in future flood events (DRFA funded).
Work has been completed under a full road closure, with detour signage in place for the duration of the works period.
From the eastern end, the main traffic diversion has been along Westbrook-Wyreema Road.
Unfortunately Westbrook-Wyreema Road is single lane bitumen for the majority of its length and the drop-off from the bitumen carriageway to the gravel shoulders has become considerable.
The road also has a dodgy creek crossing over Westbrook Creek which, if not approached slowly, can cause smaller vehicles to “bottom out”.
Toowoomba Regional Council Construction and Maintenance portfolio spokesperson Councillor Carol Taylor said Council appreciates the patience of motorists in the local area.
“Council’s top priority is to improve public safety, connectivity and improve flood resilience as we prepare for inevitable future events,” Cr Taylor said.
“This investment is part of Council’s commitment to improve transport infrastructure right across the region.
“The new scour protection works will lead to less damage and associated costs of repair for Council in the future.
“Total repair works for the 2022 Flood Recovery Program is expected to exceed $250 million across the Region, with assistance provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
“The Flood Recovery Program works are expected to be completed by the end of 2024 (weather permitting),” Cr Taylor said.
“Council makes every effort to minimise impacts on local road users during roadworks and I would like to thank the residents in the Umbiram area for their cooperation and patience during this period.”
