What’s happening?
The speed limit on the New England Highway at Kearneys Spring will soon change.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will reduce the limit from 70 km/h to 60 km/h on Ruthven Street, starting near Freyling Park and ending just south of Nelson Street.
The decision follows a detailed review prompted by concerns raised by the local community.
Why it matters?
This section of the New England Highway is used by cars, heavy vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
TMR expects the lower speed to reduce the number and severity of crashes on this busy stretch.
Local impact
The new 60 km/h zone will extend by 700 metres on Ruthven Street.
The speed will return to 80 km/h on the southern side of Nelson Street. New signs will be installed in the coming months, depending on weather and site conditions.
By the numbers
-
The speed limit will change from 70 km/h to 60 km/h between Freyling Park and south of Nelson Street.
-
The lower limit extends the current 60 km/h zone by 700 metres.
-
The 80 km/h limit resumes immediately south of Nelson Street.
Zoom in
TMR carried out a full speed limit review after community concerns about this stretch of the New England Highway. The review considered road function, roadside environment, road construction standards, traffic speeds and crash history.
The Speed Management Committee endorsed the reduction. The committee includes representatives from the Queensland Police Service, local government and TMR.
Regional Director Bill Lansbury said community input guided the outcome.
“We’ve listened to the Toowoomba community’s concern about the safety of road users along Ruthven Street and have reduced the speed limit to 60 km/h adjacent to Freyling Park to just south of Nelson Street.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is committed to road safety through providing a safe environment for all roads users and implementing safety initiatives to reduce the likelihood and severity of a crash.
“We urge all road users to observe the new speed limit and to always drive to conditions.”
Zoom out
The reduction followed the formal review process used by TMR.
This process looks at the road environment, how the road functions and historic crash data before any change is endorsed by the Speed Management Committee.
What to look for next?
TMR will install the new speed signs in the coming months, weather permitting.