General News
21 October, 2025
Safety upgrades for Warrego
Construction will commence later this year on much needed safety upgrades to the Warrego Highway between Oakey and Dalby, with lane duplication not on the agenda at this stage.
Planning is underway for a series of road upgrades along the notorious 60-kilometre stretch of the highway between Oakey and Dalby, an area which has a poor crash history.
Delivered under the State Government’s Targeted Road Safety Program, this project aims to introduce a suite of cost-effective safety improvements.
These improvements include road widening, flattening road edges, new signage and line marking, removal of some roadside hazards and the installation of dedicated turn lanes at Speed Road on the Oakey bypass.
The project design was completed last month, with construction to commence later this year and continue into 2026.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said safety upgrades to major regional transport networks were a priority for the LNP Government following years of neglect by the former Labor Government.
“Our focus is on making our roads more reliable, efficient and safe to get you home sooner,” Mr Mickelberg said.
“For too long, regional Queenslanders have been forgotten. We are delivering key safety upgrades to keep our regions moving.
“This project is a critical step toward a safer, more efficient Warrego Highway, one of the key transport corridors in our national network.”
Member for Condamine Pat Weir welcomed the investment into his electorate’s major road, highlighting the Warrego Highway’s vital role in the region’s economy.
“The Warrego Highway is more than just a road, it’s a freight lifeline for Queensland to the west,” Mr Weir said.
“From grain and cattle to cotton and machinery, this highway carries the heartbeat of our region.
“Not only that, but we also have locals and travellers on that road every day.
“These upgrades will make it safer and more efficient for everyone who relies on it.”
Mr Mickelberg’s office said there were no plans for lane duplication between Kingsthorpe and Dalby at present, which had been a Labor commitment under the Warrego Highway Upgrade Strategy, released under the Bligh Government in 2012, which had the aim of progressively upgrading the Highway to four lanes to Dalby by 2032.
Under that Government, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) completed lane duplication up to Kingsthorpe in March 2018, but progress stalled on the project after that.
Most recently, a TMR planning project investigating duplication from Kingsthorpe to Oakey was completed in July 2018, which resulted in the protection of land for a road corridor between Henningsen Road and Oakey Pittsworth Road for possible future road upgrades.
Every day, up to 15,000 vehicles travel on the Warrego Highway between Oakey and Dalby.
