ROAD CLOSED: Ipswich Street Maintenance and Northbound Delays on Ruthven Street Today

Toowoomba Traffic and Commute Update: Thursday, 5 February 2026

Commuters heading through East Toowoomba and Harlaxton this morning should prepare for specific road closures and lane restrictions. While the overall network remains functional, local maintenance projects and bus stop construction are expected to impact travel times during the morning and afternoon peaks.

Major Road Closure: Ipswich Street

The most significant disruption today is in East Toowoomba. Toowoomba Regional Council has issued a full road closure for Ipswich Street, specifically between Mackenzie Street and Cohoe Street. This closure is scheduled to take place today, Thursday, 5 February, from 6:30 am to 3:00 pm.

Crews are on-site to undertake essential asphalt patching work. While resident access will be maintained throughout the day, through traffic will be redirected via signposted detours. Drivers are encouraged to use Margaret Street or James Street as alternative east-west routes to avoid the work zone.

Harlaxton Lane Restrictions: Ruthven Street

Motorists traveling north from the city center will encounter delays on Ruthven Street in Harlaxton. The northbound outside lane between North Street and Jones Street is currently closed to allow for bus stop construction works. This restriction is active from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and is part of a multi-day project concluding this Friday.

Because this section of Ruthven Street serves as a primary link to the northern suburbs and the New England Highway, the lane reduction may cause bottlenecking during the morning rush. Commuters should allow an extra 5 to 10 minutes when traveling through this area.

Ongoing Council Works and Highway Safety

In addition to the specific closures above, the following ongoing projects continue to affect local traffic:

• Cory Street: Bluestone kerb repair works between Taylor Street and Russell Street are ongoing. While the road remains open, intermittent traffic disruptions and localized speed reductions are expected throughout the day.
• Warrego Highway (Toowoomba to Dalby): Major safety improvement construction is beginning in the region. Motorists should stay alert for increased heavy vehicle movements and early-stage site preparations near Oakey.

Public Transport and Rail

Translink services across the Toowoomba network are currently operating on their regular Thursday schedule. However, passengers using the bus stops on Ruthven Street near North Street should be aware of the construction zone. While stops remain operational, slight delays in arrivals may occur due to the northbound lane closure. No major rail disruptions have been reported for the Westlander or local freight corridors today.

Commuter Advice

With asphalt patching and infrastructure upgrades in full swing, Toowoomba drivers are advised to remain patient and strictly follow the directions of traffic controllers. The weather is expected to be clear, ensuring work proceeds as scheduled. For the smoothest commute, avoid Ipswich Street entirely between 6:30 am and mid-afternoon.