THE long awaited and much touted railway line upgrade project seems to have finally left the station.
Sunshine Coast company Hall Contracting has been awarded the early works construction contract for the $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade (B2N). Work is planned to start in early 2022, creating the first of a total of 333 jobs for the overall project.
The upgrade is cooperatively funded, with the Australian Government providing $390 million and the Queensland Government providing $160.8 million.
With the project creating more than 300 jobs, state Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the early works contract was a coup for locals.
“More capacity and better rail takes extra cars and trucks off our road, and for the thousands of families that call this area home that means a quicker, safer commute home,” Mr Hunt said.
“It also means more jobs and I’m proud to be part of a government that’s also delivering the new Bells Creek arterial road and the $662 million Bruce Highway upgrade from Steve Irwin Way to Caboolture.”
Stage one of B2N will realign a 1km section of Steve Irwin Way between Nursery Road and Moffatt Road, allowing duplication of the rail line and smoothing the curves through this section.
The early works will pave the way for the major construction works to deliver rail duplication between Beerburrum and Beerwah, three new road-over-rail bridges and expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility at Beerburrum.
At Landsborough, an additional park ‘n’ ride facility with about 300 parking spaces will be built on the eastern side of the station, removing the need for people to drive across the level crossing to park.
Landsborough Station will also benefit from the construction of a new bus interchange.
Early works are expected to start in early 2022 and be completed by 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting. Stage one construction is expected to be completed by 2025.
For more information, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search for Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade.