Highfields Intersections - traffic conditions - O'Brien Road changes

The following are traffic conditions expected up to 17 May 2024.

O'Brien Road changes

Excavation works to connect the newly installed water main on O'Brien Road, between the Highfields Fire Station and Polzin Road, will start next week.

  • From Monday 22 April to four weeks, weather permitting the following temporary traffic arrangements will be in place:
  • One-way traffic on O'Brien Road between the roundabout at the Highfields Library and Polzin Road. Traffic will be able to travel towards Reis Road only. Please note: both lanes of traffic in this section will be open on ANZAC Day only.
  • Following ANZAC Day, O'Brien Road will be closed from Highfields Road to the Highfields Tavern driveway.
  • A temporary "No left turn" from Clarke Road to O'Brien Road.
  • Detours via Polzin and Rogers roads.


These temporary arrangements will be in conjunction with the following additional traffic changes for this project:

Kratzke Road ongoing works

  • Kratzke Road (from Highfields Road to United Service Station driveway) - closed
  • Highfields Road (from roundabout at Community Hub to Kratzke Road) - closed
  • Temporary sidetrack detour - open

ANZAC Day

Travelling to commemorate ANZAC Day? Download this flyer with the service times and traffic changes. Share it with your friends, family and neighbours and remember to plan extra travel time to make the services.

Speed limits and changed traffic conditions.

We remind all road users to drive to the changed traffic conditions for the safety of residents, pedestrians, and other motorists. Speed limits in work zones and on detour routes are legally enforceable.

Highfields Intersections - traffic conditions from 10 April 2024

The consistent rain late last week impacted the progress of maintenance for the temporary detour sidetrack. We opened the sidetrack on Monday (8 April 2024) to help with arranging work sites, however, we do need to complete this maintenance.

As of Wednesday morning (10 April 2024), Highfields Road will be reopened to allow this maintenance to be undertaken.

Additionally, road closures will be in place for:

  • Kratzke Road (from Highfields Road to the United Service Station Driveway)
  • O'Brien Road (from Tavern Bottle shop driveway to the roundabout at the Highfields Library). Access on O’Brien Road between the Highfields Tavern driveway and Highfields Road will be available.

All other traffic will need to use the existing detours of Highgrove Road or Rogers Drive to connect with Highfields Road.

The sidetrack is expected to reopen in the week of 15 April 2024 (weather permitting).

Following these repair works, the sidetrack will be back in operation to allow planned excavations on Highfields Road and O’Brien Road to continue. Additional advice on this traffic staging will be provided.

Toowoomba Regional Council thanks businesses and the community for their patience and co-operation during these works and apologies for the inconvenience.

Speed limits and changed traffic conditions.

We remind all road users to drive to the changed traffic conditions for the safety of residents, pedestrians, and other motorists. Speed limits in work zones and on detour routes are legally enforceable.

CHANGE OF EASTER TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT DUE TO ONGOING WET WEATHER

Due to the expected ongoing wet weather, the project team have revisited the planned temporary traffic changes for the Easter period for the Highfields Intersection works.

Please note the following new arrangements:

  • Highfields Road – temporarily re-opened between the Uniting Church Hub (new temporary roundabout) and Lauder Drive
  • Temporary side track – temporarily closed during this time. The team will take the opportunity to undertake some maintenance activities.

This is in addition to the previously advised changes:

  • O’Brien Road – temporarily re-opened between Highfields Road and the Highfields Library
  • Kratzke Road – will remain closed – access to Kratzke Road will continue to be via Cawdor Road or Highgrove Road

Weather permitting, the project team will resume works at the intersection of Highfields and O’Brien Road from 3 April 2024. The road closures for these works will be reinstated at this time.

*Update: 2 April 2024- Due to the potential of heavy rain in the coming days, the above traffic arrangement will remain in place until 8 April 2024.

Toowoomba Regional Council thanks businesses and the community for their patience and co-operation during these works and apologies for the inconvenience

Highfields Intersections - Easter period traffic advice

Easter Holiday period site management

The project team advises the Highfields intersection works site will be closed over the Easter period.

During this time, access for O’Brien Road – between the roundabout near the Library and Highfields Road - will be re-opened temporarily.

Current closures on Highfields Road and Kratzke Road will remain in place. The O’Brien Road closure will be re-instated from Tuesday 2 April from 6am. When the closure is re-instated, the left turn only from the Highfields Tavern bottle shop onto O’Brien Road will be provided.

The site will be checked periodically and traffic control and signage will be in place over the Easter period.

We remind motorists to plan ahead for their journeys, especially during peak travel times.

Other project updates

Kuhls Road

From 8 April, the Kuhls Road rehabilitation project will move to stage three, constructing Kuhls Road from Peacehaven Botanic Park to Cawdor Road.

Kuhls Road, from the entrance to Peacehaven Botanic Park to Cawdor Road, will be closed to general traffic until late July 2024, weather permitting.

During this time there will be no access to Kuhls Road from Cawdor Road. All access to Kuhls Road, including to Peacehaven Botanic Park, will be via Highfields Road.

Residents in the immediate area will receive letters explaining local access arrangements.

Woolmer Road culvert

Works are progressing with the Woolmer Road culvert replacement project, under the Flood Recovery Program. These works have required significant excavations to reach the water flow path and to reinstate the culvert foundations.

Council thanks businesses and the community for their patience and co-operation during these works and apologies for the inconvenience.

Calendar lookahead - ANZAC Day

The project team is working to minimise disruption during the ANZAC day march and service.

Additional Temporary traffic control measures will be in place on the day for the march, and residents are encouraged to consider their travel plans and look at carpooling or using active transport where practical to assist with parking limitations around this growing community event.

Speed limits and changed traffic conditions.

We remind all road users to drive to the changed traffic conditions for the safety of residents, pedestrians, and other motorists. Speed limits in work zones and on detour routes are legally enforceable.

Further information

To find out more, please contact Council's Stakeholder Engagement Team on yoursay@tr.qld.gov.au. Know someone not receiving these updates? Let them know to hit the ‘follow’ button on our project page.

Highfields Road Closure

From 12 March 2024 (weather permitting) the closure of intersection of Kratzke Road, O’Brien Road and Highfields Road is scheduled to occur. This intersection closure is expected to be in place for approximately four weeks.

During these works, traffic will be moved on to the temporary access road between Highfields Road and O’Brien Road or the Highgrove Road detour. Local access along Kratzke Road to the Mary Mackillop School driveway, the United Service Station and businesses in this property will be maintained (via the Highgrove Road detour). See detour map link below.

Stage 2 - Closure for Kratzke Road, O'Brien Road and Highfields Road

Works moving west on Highfields Road

When we are clear of the Kratzke and Highfields roads intersection, we intend to open it for access to and from the New England Highway only. Highfields Road to the west (away from the highway) will continue to be closed in consecutive stages. These works are expected to take approximately 10 weeks to complete. See detour map link below.

Stage 3 - Closure for Highfields Road (heading west)

Following our project, there will be electrical works by Energy Qld. We are continuing to liaise with them to confirm timeframes and their planned traffic arrangement.

These works are to allow for overhead power lines to be removed and placed underground and for a new trunk water main to be installed for the Highfields community.

Speed limits and changed traffic conditions

We remind all road users to drive to the changed traffic conditions for the safety of residents, pedestrians, and other motorists. Speed limits in work zones and on detour routes are legally enforceable.

Further information

To find out more, please contact Council's Stakeholder Engagement Team on yoursay@tr.qld.gov.au.

Below are the first two stages of traffic changes for the service relocations as part of the Highfields, Kratzke and O’Brien roads intersections project.

Works are expected to start in Kratzke Road in early March and then progress to Highfields Road.

Stage 1 - Closure for Kratzke Road

Stage 2 - Closure for Kratzke Road, O'Brien Road and Highfields Road

When we close Kratzke Road intersection, traffic will be moved on to the temporary access road between Highfields Road and O’Brien Road. This road is currently under construction.

These two stages are expected to take up to one month to complete. We will give advice ahead of Highfields Road being closed and traffic being moved on to the temporary access road.

Additional information on the next stage of traffic conditions will be provided as works progress.

Highfields/ Kratzke/ O'Brien roads intersections - Service relocations (early 2024)

Update #2 – February 2024

From early February 2024, Council will commence works to relocate major services as part of early works for the Central Highfields Intersections project. These works will continue into the second half of 2024.

Council advises during this time there will be temporary staged road closures at the intersections of:

  • Highfields Road and Kratzke Road
  • Highfields Road and O’Brien Road

A temporary connection road will be constructed on the northern side of Highfields Road to maintain local connections. This will be used in conjunction with temporary detours using two options:

  • Highgrove Drive
  • Polzin Road

As part of these works it is expected there will be short term changes to traffic conditions at the intersections of Highfields Road and Lauder Drive, and Highfields Road and Rogers Drive, such as temporary lane closures and detours. More details will be provided ahead of these possible changes.

Access to businesses and residential properties, Highfields Cultural Centre, Aquatic Centre, and Library/ Customer Service Centre will be maintained via O’Brien Road, Balmoral Road and Rogers Drive.


Other road works in the Highfields area

Council advises there are multiple road construction projects planned and currently under way in Highfields. These works noted below are vital to the Region and due to funding requirements must be completed by the end of this financial year. We are unable to avoid the timing overlaps.

For all the programmed works across the Region, visit: www.tr.qld.gov.au/roadworks.

From early February 2024, Council will resume works to relocate major services as part of early works for the Central Highfields Intersections project. These works will continue until the second half of 2024.

Timing and traffic management for these works is being finalised and will be advised in early 2024. Council will provide additional detailed notice for those impacted by these works.

Access to businesses and residential properties will be always maintained.

Please refer to the map below to assist with the following information.

Stage 1

  • Watermain works (blue line) - Kratzke Road, between Highgrove Road and Clarke Road.
  • High voltage (33kV – red line) and low voltage (yellow line) conduit works – along Highfields Road, from east of Kratzke Road to west of Rogers Drive.

Details

  • In early 2024, Council will be starting works to install a trunk water main along Kratzke Road, crossing Highfields Road and continuing towards O’Brien and Clarke Roads.
  • Deep excavations will be required, which will need road closures and signed detours.

Stage 2

  • High voltage (33kV – red line) and low voltage (yellow line) conduit works – along Highfields Road, from east of Kratzke Road to west of Rogers Drive.

Details

  • While the water main installation continues, we will be working with Ergon Energy to remove high voltage overhead power lines and place them underground. These works will be along Highfields Road itself and along the southern verge.
  • The high and low voltage works are two separate excavations, will require deep trenching and need road closures and signed detours.