A consortium of Acciona, Plenary Group and Cintra has opened Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) in Queensland, Australia, following a €1.1bn investment.

The Toowoomba crossing is claimed to be the largest road project undertaken in Queensland. The concession for the dual carriageway covers 25 years.

It stretches across the Great Dividing Range, which runs roughly parallel to the country’s east coast for 3,700km.

Acciona and Ferrovial Agroman were responsible for the road’s design and construction. Broadspectrum will undertake its operation and maintenance.

TSRC will reduce heavy vehicle circulation in the city centre, enhancing the region’s traffic flow. The initial section of the Toowoomba bypass was inaugurated in December.

The new road is an alternative crossing to the Toowoomba Range for all classes of heavy and super heavy vehicles, aiming to enhance freight efficiency and driver safety.

Acciona claimed that TSRC users will cover the 500m difference in altitude between connection roads on slopes with gradients of no more than 6.5%, avoiding the steeper 10% level deviations and the 18 traffic lights of the existing road crossing the city.

An 800m viaduct over a railway line and a mountain cutting will be available to heavy vehicles or those transporting hazardous cargo.

Acciona said the project marks a new milestone in the company’s activities in Australia, where it started operations in 2002.

The company is currently undertaking the Sydney Light Rail and the level crossing removal scheme in the state of Victoria.