Owner Driver – August 2019

18 AUGUST 2019 ownerdriver.com.au

A patented Australian made innovation built to

revolutionise truck trailer brake maintenance.

Avoidexpensive

majordefects

Lessdowntime,

moreroad-time

Predictable,scheduled

maintenance

Lessbrake

replacements

FROM

$

PER

TRAILER

WANT TO PUT AN

END TO THIS?

Tru-shu keeps brake

shoes straight

OWD-HH-5211053-TS-

THEGOODSNEWS FROMTHE HIGHWAYANDBEYOND

Freight efficiencies to improve and bottlenecks expected to ease

following the range crossing opening on September 8

Toowoomba crossed off congestion list

THE CAT is finally out of the bag on

the commencement of Queensland’s

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing

(TSRC), with its opening date and toll

pricing unveiled on July 30 – and met

with early optimism.

One of the state’s largest road

infrastructure project is set for a

September 8 opening, “transforming

the national freight network in

the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley

regions”, the federal government

announced.

Federal Transport Minister Michael

McCormack says the $1.6 billion

infrastructure investment project

would “significantly reduce travel times

across the range and deliver a safer,

more efficient connection to ports

and markets”.

“Connecting the Warrego Highway

at Helidon Spa in the east to the Gore

Highway at Athol in the west, the new

Toowoomba Second Range Crossing

will form a vital strategic link within

Australia’s National Freight Network

and Toowoomba’s emerging intermodal

network,” McCormack says.

Queensland Minister for Transport

and Main Roads Mark Bailey adds: “The

opening of the Toowoomba Second

Range Crossing in September will be the

moment that the decades of dedication

and hard work from so many people to

see this road built is finally achieved.

“Construction of the Second Range

Crossing has already delivered huge

economic benefits to Toowoomba and

the Darling Downs.

“Those benefits will continue thanks

to the freight efficiencies and improved

road safety outcomes that come with

the completion of this major project.”

From the outset there had been

conjecture about the toll structure and

its effect on the road freight industry,

with early rumours suggesting ranges

ćĕƷşŕĎɓǤǠżĕsƐsĶżȰɐ

However, the Queensland Trucking

Association (QTA), which had been

lobbying for what it considered

a reasonable rate of 52 cents per

kilometre, revealed that Bailey had

confirmed that figure – equating to a

price of $22.85 per trip.

“The announcement of the TSRC toll

amount of $22.85 for heavy vehicles

by Mark Bailey MP is an overwhelming

win for the road freight industry

and that will increase Queensland

productivity,” the association tweeted.

“[CEO] Gary Mahon says the

announcement of the TSRC toll prices is

a huge win for the road freight industry

and testament to the advocacy work

our association has been doing on

behalf of our members and the wider

industry for the past two years.”

Eastern viaduct: Part of the Toowoomba Second Range

Crossing. Photo Queensland Transport and Main Roads