Council has been planning the upgrade of Youngs Crossing Road at Joyner where it crosses the North Pine River to improve its flood immunity, safety and vehicle carrying capacity given forecast growth in population, development and traffic volumes.
This important road project has a funding commitment of $32.75 million from the Australian Government, as well as a further $15 million from the Queensland Government.
With the Youngs Crossing Road transport corridor being a critical link to the South East Queensland road network, this upgrade is one of the biggest road infrastructure projects to be delivered by Council and crucial to transport services within our region.
The project spans more than one kilometre from Protheroe Road to Dayboro Road. The new river crossing involves construction of a 212 metre bridge, located to the west of the current road.
Status update
The much-anticipated upgrade to Youngs Crossing has passed a major milestone and is now in the final stage of the construction procurement process.
To ensure public sector tendering standards are maintained, guidance and oversight will continue to be provided by an independent probity advisor.
It is anticipated the successful contractor will be appointed by the end of the year, with construction expected to start in early 2025.
The new Youngs Crossing bridge and road is due to be completed around September 2026, pending confirmation of the successful contractor’s construction plan.
Questions in relation to the tender must be directed Council's Procurement team by emailing procurement@moretonbay.qld.gov.au.
Download the Youngs Crossing Road project newsletter(PDF, 9MB).
Project alignment and key benefits
Project alignment and key features
- Protheroe Road signalised intersection to increase safety and assist traffic flows.
- Access to Youngs Crossing Park will be maintained via a four-way signalised intersection.
- U-turn capability to assist Pony Club access via Youngs Crossing Road.
- Lookout platform.
- Existing Youngs Crossing will remain open to pedestrians/cyclists and link to Merv Ewart Reserve via new path under bridge.
- Fauna refuge poles, rope canopy connections and fauna rails to assist fauna movement.
- Retention of two large fig trees at the water hole.
- Koala exclusion fencing to restrict road access.
- Piers and piles designed to minimise hydraulic impacts to Sideling Creek, Pine Rivers Pony Club and Dayboro Road.
- New Pine Rivers Pony Club entry.
- Improved culvert crossing at Sideling Creek to enhance water and fish movement.
- With the new bridge running west of the existing roadway, construction work can largely occur offline in stages, minimising disruptions, alterations and temporary works.
- Extensive landscaping and tree planting along new alignment (areas shaded green).
- Upgrade to Dayboro Road intersection to a improve safety and traffic flow.
Project design
Upcoming works
Service relocations
Unitywater is relocating sections of the sewer main along Youngs Crossing Road to suit the new road and bridge alignment. View the map(PDF, 662KB).
Works will include:
- locating the existing sewer main
- establishing temporary construction amenities
- clearing some vegetation situated within the relocation corridor
- construction and connection of the new sewer main
- reinstatement of disturbed areas
Works are scheduled to commence in July 2024 and are expected to be completed in 24 weeks, weather permitting. Most works will be undertaken during the day, between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
Stay up-to-date
Minimising environmental impacts
The significance of koala populations and native flora and fauna in and around the project area are key considerations for Council and the community.
To achieve the best outcome, Council is working to reduce impacts as much as possible. Specialist environmental consultants have been engaged to assess the impacts and advise mitigation measures.
This project will affect some areas of environmental significance, mostly through the clearing of vegetation to accommodate the new bridge and its roadway. However, for every tree removed, 6 new trees will be planted strategically along the alignment and in surrounding areas to provide safer habitats, as well as enhanced corridors and connectivity for fauna.
Environmental impacts and cultural heritage assessments will be managed in line with Commonwealth and State legislation in addition to Council’s environment management framework.
Project funding
This important road project has a funding commitment of $32.75 million from the Australian Government, as well as a further $15 million from the Queensland Government.
The State Government is also investing $350,000 to progress planning for Dayboro Road. The Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) is currently undertaking a study to develop a 20-year vision for the development of Dayboro Road between the Gympie Road and Youngs Crossing Road intersections. For more information visit DTMR Dayboro Road link study.
Project background information
Youngs Crossing Road is an important north-south arterial road connecting the Moreton Bay Region with Brisbane City.
The road is used by approximately 20,000 vehicles every day, and traffic is forecast to increase to 22,500 vehicles by 2026 and 27,500 vehicles by 2036.
Council has been progressively upgrading sections of Youngs Crossing Road to four lanes to cater for this growth.
Council began preliminary planning and design work in late 2019 to upgrade the road where it crosses the North Pine River at Youngs Crossing.
Youngs Crossing Road has low flood immunity and since 2010 has closed an average of 4.5 days a year following rain events and water releases from North Pine Dam, causing delays, congestion on local roads and economic impacts.
In 2021, weather events caused Youngs Crossing Road to close:
- almost 2.5 days in March
- 28 hours straight in April
- 40 hours continuously from 30 November
- 39 hours over another three days in December.
In 2022, the road was closed for:
- 18 hours on 1 January
- 27 hours from 8 January
- 14 hours on 21 January
- 20 hours from 3 February
- More than 13 days straight in March
- More than 12 days in a row in May
So far in 2024, the road has closed for:
- more than 24 hours over 30 and 31 January
- 1.5 days from 16 February
- 11 hours on 27 March.
In 2020 Council developed concept designs for two proposed upgrade options as part of the project’s early planning and design stage and sought community feedback on these options:
Option 1 – Youngs Crossing Road existing alignment
Option 2 – Andrew Petrie Drive alignment
Council received over 4,300 responses, with 66 per cent of respondents supporting Option 1.
Council made a formal decision to select the Youngs Crossing Road alignment at the General Meeting held on the 12 November 2020(PDF, 4MB).