Traffic changes in Blackwood/Walker St for CBD work
Date published: 24 February 2017
The Townsville City Council’s $51 million CBD Utilities Upgrade works will move into Walker Street next Tuesday, requiring a temporary road closure.
Walker Street, near the intersection with Blackwood Street, will be closed for up to five days while aging underground water pipes in the road area are replaced.
Traffic control will be in place and access into Walker Street via Blackwood Street will be limited to local traffic only.
The bus stop in Walker St at the Blackwood St end will be unavailable during the work. Passengers will be able to access Sunbus services outside the council building or around the corner in Stanley Street.
Drivers approaching the CBD from Ingham Road, Woolcock Street or Charters Towers Road are encouraged to use Flinders St or Boundary/Saunders Street as an alternative to Sturt St to minimise congestion during peak times.
Infrastructure Services Committee chairman Cr Mark Molachino urged motorists to use an alternative route from next Tuesday.
“The Blackwood St/Walker Street corner is a busy route in and out of the city and the project team is highly aware of the need to complete the work and have the road reopened as soon as possible,” Cr Molachino said.
“The overall CBD Utilities Upgrade is a huge four year project that requires the excavation of roads and footpaths to replace pipes that are up to 60 years old.
“A big focus for the project team is minimising impacts on businesses, Sunbus, and the public as much as possible, and we apologise for any disruptions.
“The upgrade is essential work that will ensure our basic services are supporting the city’s growth. As the project moves through the city roads and footpaths are also being upgraded to a much better standard.”
Other upcoming works in the CBD Utilities Upgrade include:
- Ground and surface investigation work continuing in preparation for next round of major works package later in the year.
- Footpath upgrades Stanley, Walker, Stokes Streets, scheduled to start in March.
- Flinders St West (in-bound) - water and stormwater drainage upgrades and new kerb work between Fletcher and Jones St commencing in March. Lane closures will be in place with traffic control. Traffic flows will be maintained.
- Stanley St – upgrade of water and footpaths between Sturt St and Flinders St. Bus stops will be temporarily relocated to the front of the National Australia Bank.
