Western Ipswich Bypass

Location of corridor

The Western Ipswich Bypass runs between the Warrego Highway at Haigslea, through Walloon and Amberley, to the Cunningham Highway at Willowbank.

Western Ipswich Bypass map (PDF, 197 KB)

History

In 1999 Main Roads commissioned independent consultants Sinclair Knight Merz to undertake the Western Ipswich Bypass Study. This was to help the state government decide whether to preserve a road corridor between the Warrego and Cunningham highways.

This study is now complete. Main Roads is working with Ipswich City Council to ensure that future developments do not compromise the corridor identified for the future road. You can view the planned route of the bypass in the attached map.

The study was conducted in four stages:

  • Stage 1—needs investigation: showed there was a need for a road between the Warrego and Cunningham highways and further investigation was required. The perceived need was based on the need to provide for through traffic (i.e. traffic that does not need to access Ipswich) between the two highways and future urban and industrial growth to the west of the Ipswich City centre. Traffic modelling showed that over the next 30 years the existing road network, even with extensive upgrading works, would not cope with expected traffic volumes, resulting in increased negative impacts for the community, safety issues for drivers, cyclists and pedestrian and increased trip times contributing to negative economic and environmental effects.
  • Stage 2—identification of corridor options: identified three broad corridor options for the proposed road and was completed. The potential issues and impacts on the community, business and the social and natural environment associated with each option were assessed. The three options were east of RAAF Base Amberley, west of RAAF Base Amberley and east of Walloon and west of Walloon.
  • Stage 3—corridor analysis: identified the preferred corridor for the proposed Western Ipswich Bypass as C-OPTION-West of Walloon with a northern alignment east of Haigslea. The study found that the corridor option west of Walloon had the potential to provide the best overall outcome. The next stage was to do an impact assessment study (IAS) on this option to work out if the impacts of the proposed road alignment were acceptable, and what measures would be needed to reduce those impacts.
  • Stage 4—Impact Assessment Study (IAS): involved a detailed investigation of the preferred corridor option and was completed in October 2002.

Property acquisitions

The state government already owns some of the property affected by the corridor. This property was purchased under hardship acquisition provisions, following requests from property owners.

You can find out more about property acquisitions on the Main Roads' property page, or by emailing www.propertyservices@mainroads.qld.gov.au, or calling +61 1800 806 414.

More information

For more information on the planning of the corridor, please email brisbane.office@mainroads.qld.gov.au or phone +61 7 3137 8258.

Last updated: 25 June 2009