The Capricorn Highway is located in Central Queensland, Australia, and links the city of Rockhampton with western Queensland.[1] The highway is 575 kilometres (357 mi) long, and joins the Landsborough Highway at Barcaldine.[2] Formerly National Route 66, Queensland began to convert to the alphanumeric system much of Australia had adopted in the early-2000s and is now designated as A4. The highway runs parallel with the Tropic of Capricorn, hence its name.
Running virtually east/west, the highway traverses the area known as the Central Highlands, and crosses the Great Dividing Range between Alpha and Jericho.
Capricorn Highway (green on black)
State-controlled road
Capricorn Highway is a state-controlled state-strategic road. It is defined in four sections, as follows:
The project to duplicate the section between Rockhampton and Gracemere was completed in mid 2021 at a total cost of $75 million.[6] This will facilitate the construction of the south-western entry to the proposed Rockhampton Ring Road.
The project for upgrading between Gracemere saleyards and the Rockhampton abattoirs to provide access for Type 1 Road Trains was completed by early 2021 at a total cost of $30 million.[7] It involved about 29 kilometres (18 mi) of road improvements on four roads:
Capricorn Highway – from Saleyards Road at Gracemere to the Bruce Highway roundabout at Rochhampton (7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi)).
Bruce Highway – from the Capricorn Highway roundabout to the Yaamba Road intersection (8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi)).
Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road – from the Bruce Highway intersection south-west to the Emu Park Road intersection (2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi).
Rockhampton–Emu Park Road – from the Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road intersection to St Christophers Chapel Road at Nerimbera (10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi)).
Roads of strategic importance upgrades
The Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, included the following projects for the Capricorn Highway.
Corridor upgrade
A lead project to upgrade the Mount Isa to Rockhampton corridor, including sections of the Capricorn and Landsborough Highways and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $237.5 million, was in the planning and scoping stage. Works are expected to include progressive sealing, lane duplications and crossing upgrades.[8]
Intersection upgrade Gregory Highway
A project to upgrade the intersection with the Gregory Highway in Emerald at a cost of $7.9 million is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.[9] This project was targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government.[10]
Other upgrades
Intersection upgrade
A project to upgrade an intersection in Blackwater, at a cost of $6.24 million, was expected to finish in early 2022.[11]
Pavement strengthening and/or widening
A project to strengthen and widen pavement just east of Emerald, at a cost of $5 million, was expected to finish in mid-2022.[12]
A project to widen pavement east of Alpha, at a cost of $9.65 million, was due for completion in late 2022.[13]
In addition to the Bruce, Leichhardt, Gregory and Landsborough Highways, and the Fitzroy Developmental Road, the following state-controlled roads, from east to west, intersect with the Capricorn Highway:
Capricorn Highway, Gainsford to Don River crossing, Gainsford / Kokotungo boundary
Length
24.3 km (15.1 mi)
Biloela–Duaringa Road is a state-controlled district road (number 462), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Capricorn Highway in Gainsford to the Don River crossing on the Gainsford / Kokotungo boundary, a distance of 24.3 kilometres (15.1 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads. The physical road continues south as Kokotungo–Don River Road.[14]
Blackwater–Cooroorah Road
Blackwater–Cooroorah Road
Location
Capricorn Highway, Blackwater to Coronado Curragh Mine, Blackwater
Length
15.5 km (9.6 mi)
Blackwater–Cooroorah Road is a state-controlled district road (number 513), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Capricorn Highway in Blackwater to the Coronado Curragh Mine in Blackwater, a distance of 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads. The physical road continues north.[15]
Comet River Road
Comet River Road
Location
Capricorn Highway, Comet to Comet–Rolleston Road, Togara
Length
22.5 km (14.0 mi)
Comet River Road is a state-controlled district road (number 4607), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Capricorn Highway in Comet to the northern boundary of Togara, where it becomes Comet–Rolleston Road, a distance of 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[16]
Anakie–Sapphire Road
Anakie–Sapphire Road
Location
Bon Accord Road, Anakie Siding to Rubyvale Road, Sapphire Central
Length
11.1 km (6.9 mi)
Anakie–Sapphire Road is a state-controlled district road (number 5501), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from Bon Accord Road in Anakie Siding, across the Capricorn Highway, to Rubyvale Road in Sapphire Central, a distance of 11.1 kilometres (6.9 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[17]
Alpha–Tambo Road
Alpha–Tambo Road
Location
Capricorn Highway, Alpha to Dawson Developmental Road, Windeyer
Length
121 km (75 mi)
Alpha–Tambo Road is a state-controlled district road (number 443), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][5] It runs from the Capricorn Highway in Alpha to the Dawson Developmental Road in Windeyer, a distance of 121 kilometres (75 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[18]
^"Mount Isa to Rockhampton Corridor Upgrade". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
