Safe and Well-Maintained Road Network

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Western Downs Regional Council is calling for increased investment from both the Federal and Queensland Governments to renew and upgrade key transport infrastructure - including the Warrego Highway and Dogwood Creek Bridge, and the region's State-controlled road network - to support regional growth, freight efficiency, and community safety.

We know that strong, reliable road networks are essential, not just for getting from A to B, but for powering our economy, supporting industry, and connecting our communities. 

That’s why Council is advocating for a fairer share of funding to ensure our region’s roads are fit for purpose, now and into the future. 

Why Road Infrastructure Matters 

The Western Downs is home to the largest road network in Queensland, and the second largest in Australia - around 10,000kms, or roughly equivalent to driving from one side of Australia to the other and back again. Of this, 1,800km are State-controlled roads used by over 300,000 heavy vehicles per year, and which currently fall well short of the Department of Transport and Main Roads' target standards. 

The Warrego Highway, Queensland’s Federally-controlled east-west freight corridor, transports $19.5 billion in freight annually. The 186km stretch of the highway within in the Western Downs alone moves more than $11.86 billion in freight on over 100,000 road trains and semi-trailers each year. Despite delivering 60% of all freight demand on the route, this stretch of highway is significantly underfunded and in poor condition. 

What This Means for Our Region 

Economic Efficiency: Our road network is the backbone of the Western Downs economy. It connects our energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors to national and global markets, and supports the movement of critical equipment, technology, and workforce. 

Freight Growth: With Australia’s freight demand expected to rise, investment in resilient, high-capacity road infrastructure is essential to keep goods moving efficiently and safely. 

Local Impact: State and Federal roads damaged or degraded by frequent heavy-vehicle traffic pose a safety risk not only to those travelling through our region, but also to our residents who drive on these roads every day. 

Spotlight: Dogwood Creek Bridge 

The Dogwood Creek Bridge is a vital freight link on the Warrego Highway. A 2022 structural assessment by The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads found it unsuitable for oversize vehicles over 175 tonnes. Without a viable alternative, these vehicles face a 278km detour, including sections of gravel road that are often impassable during wet weather.  

Since 2022, Council has provided an alternative route using local roads - a goodwill gesture that halves the detour distance, reduces emissions and delays, and supports critical energy and mining projects. However, this solution places additional strain on local infrastructure, adding costs that are not sufficiently covered by current funding. 

Council’s Advocacy 

Council is actively advocating for: 

  • Increased Federal and State funding to address urgent maintenance and safety backlogs on the Warrego Highway and our State-controlled road network
  • Strengthening or repairs to the Dogwood Creek Bridge, a key freight link west of Miles
  • Equitable funding models that reflect freight volume and economic contribution - not just traffic counts 
  • Long-term investment in infrastructure resilience to support future growth 
  • Recognition of regional roads as critical national infrastructure 

State-controlled roads and infrastructure requiring critical works

Council is actively advocating for renewals and additional funding for the entire state-controlled road network in our region, with particular focus on the below projects requiring urgent and critical works: 

344 Roma-Condamine Road | Single-lane section upgrades  

This single-lane bitumen road forces vehicles to drive on the road shoulder when passing, causing shoulder erosion and dangerous drops at the edge of the bitumen - particularly risky for loaded road trains.  

This project has been successful in gaining funding to deliver. 

4201 Warra Canaga Creek Road | 20km Unsealed section upgrades  

This major thoroughfare for heavy and agricultural vehicles is located on the Black Soil Floodplain and is highly susceptible to flooding and water damage, which disrupts its usability and requires frequent repairs. WDRC has recently applied to DTMR's Country Roads Connect Program to fund a $6.9M upgrade of the unsealed sections of this road.  

This project has been successful in securing funding through DTMR's 'Country Roads Connect' Program deliver upgrades by 2028. 

325 Dalby Cecil Plains Road | Road rehabilitation (Ch4.4 to 10.8km)  

Sections of this road have deteriorated to the point of the pavement being out of shape, posing a serious safety hazard for the high-volume of vehicles that use this road every day.  

86A Surat Developmental Road | Road rehabilitation (Ch73.1 to 91.9km in sections)  

Large portions of this road show continuous roughness and deformation. Some sections have been marked with permanent 'Rough Surface' warning signs for years due to the scope of works being too large to fund from the RMPC maintenance budget.  

340 Dalby-Kogan Road | Road rehabilitation (Ch33.4 to 39.3km in sections)  

Sections of this road develop frequent pavement failures, such as shoving and rutting, creating uneven and unsafe surfaces and making the road a maintenance burden which consumes budget at the cost of other locations in the region.  

3402 Tara-Kogan Road | Single-lane section upgrades  

This road predominantly consists of single-lane bitumen sections, requiring vehicles to traverse unsealed shoulders when passing, contributing to accelerated wear and tear. The growing population in the region has resulted in increased traffic volumes, including families and children commuting to work and school.  

Culvert replacements | Funding allocation for renewals  

Many minor culverts within the region are nearing the end of their functional lifespan, yet there is no systematic replacement program in place. These aging culverts are becoming increasingly susceptible to structural failure. A failure could result in catastrophic consequences, such the road collapsing.  

342 Kogan-Condamine Road | Floodway upgrades (Ch10.4km)  

The floodway is lower than the surrounding watercourse and suffers from water pooling during and after wet weather events. The standing water, combined with traffic movement, damages the floodway surface, creating unsafe conditions for traffic and requiring frequent repairs to the bitumen seal.  

45A Bunya Highway | Floodway upgrades  

One floodway (Ch9.2km) receives sediment deposits and water retention due to a lack of an outlet in the road reserve. The resulting sediment frequently covers the road, causing safety hazards and damaging the pavement. Water retention at another floodway (Ch26.3km) leads to repeated failures of the bitumen seal and creates a risk for motorists, especially since the damage is not immediately visible due to the winding road geometry.  

35A Moonie Highway (known as Loudoun Road) | Road reconstruction (Ch1.3 to 2.6km)  

The road suffers from numerous sharp bumps in the traffic lanes, likely reflections of service crossings beneath the road. Given the industrial nature of this area, with businesses and pedestrian activity, the condition of the road poses serious safety risks, even at the posted 60 km/h speed limit.  

26C Leichhardt Highway | Road reconstruction (Ch .45 to 72km in sections, in the vicinity of Western Road)

The road has become misshapen, with depressions and bumps in many sections. Rehabilitation is required to restore an adequate level of rideability and smoothness to accommodate the large number of heavy vehicles and high traffic volume on this interstate freight route.

Australia's future can't run on broken roads. Regional road infrastructure should be recognised for the critical role it plays in powering the state and national economies, and our rural communities.

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