Townsville firm NQ Excavations is nearing completion of its 8.8km stretch of the Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project.

NQ Excavations expects to install the last length of pipe early next week and begin commissioning before Christmas, director Eric Lollo says.

It follows the milestone last month of completing the second head control tower pipe (pictured) on this stretch of the project.

With the above-ground section standing 16m high and weighing in at roughly 44 tonnes fully assembled, two Multirig cranes were required to upend the pipework and precisely position it onto a 200 cubic metre thrust structure.

The pipeline installation work for the major water project was awarded in four packages, with two contracts awarded to BMD, one to CivilPlus Construction and one to NQ Excavation.

The new 1.8m diameter pipeline will stretch 36km from the Haughton Channel to the Ross River Dam.

The Haughton Pipeline Duplication is part of the Townsville City Council’s three-point water security solution, backed with $225 million in State Government funding.

Other elements include a recycled water system for community spaces and industrial use and the Community Water Transition Support Package.