June 30, 2016
Kingaroy’s Clark and Swendson Road will remain closed between Keith Shaw Drive and the Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road until the end of the year.
The South Burnett Regional Council said today the road closure was necessary to provide a safe working environment for its staff as they begin work to upgrade the intersection outside Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory.
As part of the project, the Council will also widen 400 metres of Clark and Swendson Road, and install a reinforced concrete floodway south of the intersection.
Signage will be in place to detour traffic around the area, but property owners within the closed area will be given access.
The intersection upgrade and associated works will cost $1.5 million.
The project is being funded by the Queensland Government, who announced in January last year that the money had been set aside from Round 4 of its “Royalties For Regions” program to allow the work to go ahead.
The road widening and floodway construction is being separately funded by the Federal Government’s Roads To Recovery program.
“Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory is a major industry for Kingaroy and a significant contributor to the local economy,” a Council spokesman said.
“The business is required to upgrade its vehicle access points to meet quality control and hygiene standards.
“This involves the provision of a new access into the site from Clark and Swendson Road, to allow further flexibility with their business operations.”
The Council will be upgrading the intersection to accommodate B-Double operations, and will also widen the northern and southern sides of Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road.
Work began on the project in late April and is expected to take seven months, weather permitting.
- Related article: $1.5m Upgrade Boosts Swickers
