Ipswich City Council says better traffic flow for residents of one of Queensland’s fastest growing areas is on the way as construction begins on a major roads upgrade.
Mayor, Teresa Harding said the sod turning for first stage of the Ripley Road and Fischer Road Upgrade is an important milestone in the project providing the Ripley Valley with the road infrastructure required to support its growing population.
“With a population expected to surge to 131,000 by 2046, Ipswich’s booming Ripley Valley is absorbing much of the growth of South East Queensland as a State Government-identified Priority Development Area,” Mayor Harding said.
“The residents of the Ripley Valley have made it clear they want to spend their time enjoying all the things that make the area great, such as parks, conservation areas and sporting clubs – not stuck in traffic.
“That’s why we’re delivering the upgrade to turn Ripley Road from a rural two-lane road into a four-lane median-divided urban arterial road.
“Importantly, the construction will provide more avenues for active and public transport, with the inclusion of footpaths, cycling tracks and bus stops, while the rural Fischer Road will be transformed into a two-lane urban sub-arterial road.”
Mayor Harding said the upgrades are the result of Council partnering with the State Government to secure $73.6 million under the government’s Residential Activation Fund.
“With council’s construction partner Bielby Holdings Pty Ltd commencing these works, it’s an exciting time for an area which is popular with young families and earmarked as a prominent location for housing growth in future years,” she said.
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee Chairperson Councillor, Andrew Antoniolli said the Ripley Road and Fischer Road Upgrade comprises of more than 3km of road reconstruction across three stages.
“The first stage will focus on a 1.1km stretch of Ripley Road between the Cunningham Highway and Monterea Road, scheduled for completion by the end of 2027,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“The second stage will upgrade 1.6km of Ripley Road between Monterea Road and Fischer Road, while the third and final stage is a reconstruction of 750m of Fischer Road.
“The upgrade will also include a new signalised intersection at the Ripley Road-Fischer Road junction, as well as stormwater drainage, associate kerb and channel and street lighting, with a service road also added to Ripley Road.
“This will provide a safer and more pleasant journey for people travelling along Ripley Road, which carries about 22,000 vehicles per day.”
Division 1 Councillor, Pye Augustine said council will continue to advocate to other levels of government for infrastructure projects to support the growth of the Ripley Valley.
“The Ripley Road and Fischer Road Upgrade will improve traffic conditions, but with homes for another 120,000 people expected to be built in the area over the next 20 years, more needs to be done to cater for these residents,” Cr Augustine said.
“We continue to advocate for projects servicing the Ripley Valley, including critical upgrades to the Cunningham Highway and Centenary Motorway and a public transport corridor linking Springfield Central and Ipswich Central.”
