Gateway North needs Federal Labor commitment

The Newman Government is calling on Federal Labor to match the Federal Coalition’s commitment to provide funding for a long overdue upgrade of the Gateway Motorway.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the Gateway Upgrade North project risked becoming a victim of the former Bligh Government’s financial mismanagement.

“If elected, the Federal Coalition has committed $1 billion towards upgrading the Gateway Motorway between Nudgee and the Bruce Highway,” Mr Emerson said.

“The financial mess left by State Labor means if Federal Labor failed to match the commitment and formed Government the project can’t currently be afforded.

“Most of the Gateway and Logan Motorways were privatised by the Bligh government, leaving the section from Nudgee to the Bruce Highway – known as Gateway Motorway North – as a state-controlled road.

“Ironically it happens to be the section that needs a taxpayer funded upgrade.”

Queensland Motorways was privatised in 2011. The agreement struck by the Bligh Government covers the entire Logan Motorway, Gateway Extension and Gateway Motorway from the Logan Motorway to Nudgee.  

“If funding isn’t committed by the Federal Government to the section north of Nudgee then we would need to consider delaying the project several years or tolling – neither of which is likely to be supported by up to 100,000 motorists who use that stretch of road each day,” Mr Emerson said.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads released a draft plan to the community in June 2011 to upgrade the Gateway Motorway from Nudgee to the Bruce Highway.

Plans include widening to six lanes from Nudgee to the Deagon Deviation and the Deagon Deviation would also be widened between Depot Road and Bracken Ridge Road.

[ENDS] 31 December 2012

Media contact: Eleisha Rogers 0413 375 088