Construction works on the project are expected to begin within months and will also include a second Yeppen Bridge, additional lanes on the Yeppen Roundabout and intersection upgrades at Jellicoe Street and Port Curtis Road.

Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads and AECOM compiled design details of the project over the past 12 months and tenders were called for the shovel ready development in January.

The project is designed to ease congestion in the area and is scheduled for completion in early 2014.

It will deliver a slip lane for traffic entering Rockhampton from Gracemere, speed reduction curves, expansion of the roundabout to two lanes between the Yeppen Bridge entry and Capricorn Highway exit and a 420m Yeppen Bridge downstream of the existing structure.

The two-lane bridge will be dedicated to outbound traffic and will be approximately 3m higher than the existing Yeppen Lagoon Bridge. Both lanes of the existing bridge will be dedicated for inbound traffic.

This article first appeared in ILN's sister publication ConstructionIndustryNews.net.