Accessing the Western Downs is about to get a whole lot easier for travellers, thanks to the opening of the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) on 8 September.

Travellers heading west along the Warrego Highway to Dalby, Miles and Chinchilla can expect to avoid up to 18 sets of traffic lights and save around 30 minutes on their journey. The 41 kilometre long Toowoomba bypass route will connect the Warrego Highway from Helidon Spa, in the east, to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west, via Charlton.

Southern Queensland Country Tourism Chief Executive Officer Peter Homan said the new Second Range Crossing will have immediate positive impacts for tourism. “Who wouldn’t be keen on saving 30 minutes travel time to the Western Downs! The new crossing makes destinations like the Bunya Mountains, Dalby, Miles and Chinchilla more doable as short breaks or spur of the moment weekends away, and puts a range of fantastic events within easier reach. Combine them with top camping, vanning, fishing and stargazing spots and you’ve got a winning Western Downs getaway,” he said.

Mr Homan said the new crossing also meant good news for Toowoomba-bound travellers. “The existing Range road will be safer and quicker to negotiate, because an estimated 3500 heavy vehicles are expected to travel via the new road each day. In fact unless trucks have a Toowoomba destination, they are required to take the alternate route, which means visitors to the Carnival of Flowers later in September can rest assured that travel times up the Range will be streamlined”, Mr Homan said. TSRC tolls will be waived for the first three months of operation.

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