Youngs Crossing upgrade, Joyner

Last updated 10 January 2024

Youngs Crossing Road closed due to flooding

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 allocated in June this year.

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.

Subject to tender considerations and Council confirmation, construction work on the new road and bridge is likely to start in the second half of 2024 and be completed in 2026.

Status update

An independent strategic review of the Infrastructure Investment Program (IIP) was undertaken and completed in August 2023. The review focused on projects that had not yet commenced construction, including the Youngs Crossing project. 

Tender processes were placed on hold while awaiting the outcome of the review.

On 16 November 2023, the Australian Government re-confirmed its funding commitment toward the Youngs Crossing upgrade project. Construction procurement processes are expected to resume in early 2024.  

Final DTMR approvals are nearing completion. Land acquisition processes associated with the project are also under way.

Project alignment and key benefits

Alignment of Youngs Crossing Road(JPG, 143KB)

Project alignment and key features

  1. Protheroe Road signalised intersection to increase safety and assist traffic flows
  2. Access to Youngs Crossing Park will be maintained via a four-way signalised intersection
  3. U-turn capability to assist Pony Club access via Youngs Crossing Road
  4. Lookout platform
  5. Existing Youngs Crossing will remain open to pedestrians/cyclists and link to Merv Ewart Reserve via new path under bridge
  6. Consideration of fauna poles and rope canopies to assist fauna movement
  7. Opportunity to retain the two large fig trees at the waterhole
  8. Koala exclusion fencing to restrict road access
  9. Piers and piles designed to minimise hydraulic impacts to Sideling Creek, Pine Rivers Pony Club and Dayboro Road
  10. New Pine Rivers Pony Club entry
  11. Improved culvert crossing at Sideling Creek to enhance water and fish movement
  12. With the new bridge running west of the existing roadway, construction work can largely occur offline in stages, minimising disruptions, alterations and temporary works
  13. Extensive landscaping and tree planting along new alignment (areas shaded green)
  14. Upgrade to Dayboro Road intersection to a improve safety and traffic flow.

Project design

Upcoming works

Telecommunication network upgrades

NBN and Optus are planning to undertake separate telecommunication network upgrades around the Youngs Crossing Road corridor early in 2024. These works are not related to Council's Youngs Crossing Road project.

NBN upgrades will occur at multiple locations throughout the wider Petrie area, including within the project area along Dayboro Road from Sideling Creek to Maurine Road. Impacted residents should be notified by NBN before works begin. Enquiries can be directed to Service Stream on 1800 716 226 or Enquiries.Telco@servicestream.com.au, reference: NBN N2P Program - 4KLG-20.

Optus network upgrades will occur along Protheroe Road (from Youngs Crossing Road to Byrnes Road North), Youngs Crossing Road (from Protheroe Road to Samsonvale Road) and Samsonvale Road (from Youngs Crossing Road to Kurrajong Drive). Impacted residents should be notified by Optus before works begin. Enquiries can be directed to Surya Naidu on 0401 345 550 or surya.naidu1@optus.com.au, reference: Lawnton West - EO 30323320.

Service relocations

The Youngs Crossing Road project will require the relocation of some essential utility services. The project team are currently reviewing their approach to undertaking these relocation works. More details will be provided should any service relocations be planned as early works. The project team will continue to liaise closely with affected properties.

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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, five 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 allocated in June this year.

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

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)

Location

Youngs Crossing Road, Joyner 4500  View map

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