Range crossing

NATURALLY, whenever we think of the progress on the Second Toowoomba Range Crossing, we think of the daily transfer of 5000 trucks and an unknown number of through cars that use James St every day to the city’s outskirts from the CBD.

All that pollution, noise, fumes, smell and dense, slow moving traffic pollutes our otherwise pristine city. It will be a very great improvement to our environment.

Moreover, the general environment overall will be greatly improved. The new crossing will avoid the steep 4km climb up the range, dense slow moving traffic through Toowoomba and close to 20 traffic lights and present an entirely new perspective.

There will be only two fairly steep climbs, each about 1km long, no greater challenge than the present crossing over the Marburg and Minden Ranges on the Brisbane - Toowoomba highway.

Most modern trucks will take these two climbs in their stride and will be a piece of cake to all car drivers. Traffic will transverse this route more quickly than other sections of highway and with less worry.

I have been very reliably told that, at present, trucks use as much fuel on the 20km section of road between the bottom of the Toowoomba Range and its western outskirts as they do for the rest of the journey from Brisbane. The steep climb, heavy traffic and traffic lights cause this enormous wastage.

I have no knowledge of the amount of fuel this crossing will save but, assuming this amounts, at the very least, to 10 litres per truck this means a saving of something more than 20 million litres of diesel every year. Cars would also save a considerable volume of petrol.

With all this in mind, surely use of this crossing will be a major improvement in our environment and there is no doubt whatsoever that we must encourage, even implore, tourist and truck traffic to use this crossing, telling the world why we encourage this use.

No matter what else we call this road, we must also emphasise that this is the great environmental way to travel to Toowoomba and beyond. It is also a spectacular entrance to Toowoomba with its 800m viaduct and very deep cutting topped with a rare arch bridge taking the New England Highway over the crossing.

I must also mention the main access of crossing traffic into Toowoomba, Mort St. Over the years and without fanfare, the council has planted a large number of trees and shrubs along Gowrie Creek to improve the quality of the creek. As a result, visitors will have the view of what has evolved into a small, subtropical rain forest along the creek, a subtle hint that they are entering the Garden City. — PETER AND BETTY SHERIDAN, Kearneys Spring