Published Friday, 11 April, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Transport/Main Roads
The Honourable Stephen Bredhauer
Road projects to improve safety on Gregory Developmental Road
Transport and Main Roads Minister Steve Bredhauer said today the work would be done by Dalrymple Shire Council.
"Work on these projects will start this month, providing ongoing employment for local council workers,'' he said.
"The projects include widening a 13km section between Stockyard Creek grid and Rocky Gin Creek, 20km north of the Bluewater Springs Roadhouse, and a 1.5km section at the Gainsford Jump-up, about 50km north of Charters Towers.
"The first section of the Gregory Developmental Road is narrow and the presence of rock beneath the cuttings has contributed to a rough surface for motorists using this road.
"At the Gainsford Jump-up, the road is very narrow, with limited visibility. The widening work will address these problems.
"The Gainsford Jump-up project should be finished by September 2003 and the other project by December 2003.
"Dalrymple Shire Council has been extensively involved in the projects, providing input to Main Roads for the design and material source locations."
Mr Bredhauer said the State Government was providing a total of $3.76 million for the two projects as part of its strategy is to progressively widen and upgrade the 260km of mostly single-lane bitumen to two lanes over a 20-year period.
"This will be done initially by widening narrow sections of the road at 20km intervals to continue to upgrade road safety by improving overtaking opportunities," he said.
"In 2004, widening work is planned for sections between Gray Creek and East Paddy Creek and road surface improvements on sections from 7km south of the Red Falls turn-off to 3km south of Fletcher Creek, worth a total of $1.55 million."
Media inquiries: Louise Foley, Senior Media Advisor (07) 3235 4826 or 0407 966 829 ... Marie Low, Media Advisor (07) 3237 1944 or 0408 725 308.