State Government continues investment in Far North Queensland roads

Far North Queensland will receive $217 million over the next two years as part of a record $11.55 billion roads program for Queensland.

The latest Roads Implementation Program, launched by Premier Peter Beattie and Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas, boosts roads spending in Queensland by more than $1 billion over the next five years.

Mr Lucas said a record $11.55 billion would be spent on the state’s roads from 2006-07 to 2010-11 – a $1.05 billion or 10% increase on the previous five-year program.

The five year program details almost 2500 road projects that will be constructed around the state over the next five years.

“We are committed to delivering the projects that make our roads safer and help meet the needs of a growing state,” Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said the work included significant projects to improve road safety in the region.

“Highlights include almost $21 million worth of safety improvements in Cairns and on the Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas, almost $21.6 million to continue upgrading the Peninsula Developmental Road, $5.2 million towards new bridges in Johnstone and Mareeba Shires and $18.7 million to widen the Kennedy Highway south of Mt Garnet,” Mr Lucas said.

“Major safety improvements for Cairns over the next two years include the upgrading of Mulgrave Road and upgrading of the roundabout at the intersection of the Captain Cook Highway/Cairns Western Arterial Road, known locally as the Caravonica roundabout.

Mr Lucas said several busy intersections throughout Cairns would also be upgraded.

“Traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Anderson Street and McNamara Street and of the Captain Cook Highway and Lily Street in the north Cairns area, by March 2007,” he said.

Mr Lucas said the State Government was continuing to invest in improving safety on the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas.

“This allows work to continue on widening and sealing shoulders on the winding section of the Captain Cook Highway, between Cairns and Port Douglas,” he said.

Mr Lucas said the two-year road funding program for Far North Queensland would see completion of a major $18.7 million upgrade over two years of a 67km section of the Kennedy Highway, south of Mt Garnet.

“The upgrade will see single-lane sections widened to two lanes with sealed shoulders, extending south of Mt Garnet to the intersection with the Gulf Developmental Road, known locally as the Three Ways and also as Forty Mile Scrub,” Mr Lucas said.

“Work began during August 2006 and the full upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of June 2008.”

Mr Lucas also highlighted the State Government's continuing investment in upgrading the Peninsula Developmental Road, as well as carrying out a massive repair effort on the road, following Cyclone Monica.

“The road was re-opened to all legally loaded freight vehicles by the end of June, and work on major culvert repairs was completed in September,” he said.

“Almost $21.6 million in State funding is being spent over the next two years to continue projects to extend bitumen on the Peninsula Developmental Road, to upgrade floodways and carry out gravel re-sheeting.”

Mr Lucas said the State Government's contribution to upgrading the Peninsula Developmental Road continued, despite the road losing its Roads of National Importance (RoNI) status in June 2004, when this Federal funding program was closed down.

“In addition to the $21.6 million investment in 2006-07 and 2007-08, the State Government has committed to allocating a further matching $10 million in future, in support of Cook Shire's recent submission to the Federal Government for funding under its Strategic Regional Programme.”

Mr Lucas said Cook Shire had sought matching funding from the Federal Government to seal a 30km section of the road between Lakeland and Laura.

Mr Lucas said State funding for sealing works on the Endeavour Valley Road included $3.2 million to seal from north of the end of the existing bitumen seal, which was just getting underway, and $900,000 also being provided under the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program for sealing work near Little Webb Creek, which began in October.

Mr Lucas also announced funding for a new project, the replacement of the narrow, low-level EndeavourRiverBridge at Marton, with a wider, higher-level bridge.

“Some $2 million is provided for this $7 million project to begin in 2007-08, with the bulk of construction to be done in 2008-09.”

Mr Lucas also announced a total of $3.5 million to upgrade the Burke Developmental Road, including sealing works between Almaden and Chillagoe and gravel resheeting work further west.

“The Gulf Developmental Road will receive almost $5 million for ongoing widening and sealing work on some single-lane sections.”

Mr Lucas said the budget also provided some $40 million in subsidies to local government and indigenous community councils, under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).

"Two-thirds of this funding will go to community councils through Cape York and the Torres Strait, to assist them to upgrade vital infrastructure to improve quality of life and access for residents in remote communities," he said.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942