State Government continues investment in North Queensland roads

Townsville, Thuringowa and the surrounding region will receive $269 million for roads 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.

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

“All up, the state and federal governments will provide $269 million for roads in Townsville, Thuringowa and the surrounding areas over the next two years,” Mr Lucas said.

Highlights for 2006-07 and 2007-08 include funding to complete the design and begin construction on the Townsville/Thuringowa Ring Road and $3.7 million towards planning and design for the Townsville Port Access Road.

There is $8.8 million to upgrade North Ward Road to four lanes, $2.5 million to upgrade Hervey's Range Road to four lanes, $20 million for ongoing widening of the Gregory Developmental Road and $12 million to complete construction of a new sealed road, the Cerito to Newlands Mine Road.

Mr Lucas said the State Government was providing $39.6 million towards the total cost of Sections 2 and 3 of the Townsville/Thuringowa Ring Road to link it from the new DouglasArterialBridge at Upper Ross River Road to the Bruce Highway, via Shaw Road. The Federal Government is providing the remaining $79.5 million for the $119 million project.

Mr Lucas said $3.7 million state funding for the Townsville Port Access would allow design work to be completed for Stage One (Stuart Bypass) and planning work to be completed for Stage Two (Eastern Corridor).

“Main Roads will carry out consultation with the wider community in early 2007 to help plan the Stage Two or Eastern Corridor section,” he said.

“This follows on from consultation carried out with local residents and nearby facilities, in 2005 and 2006, for the Stage One, or Stuart Bypass planning and design.

“Timing for construction of Stages One and Two of the Townsville Port Access Road is subject to a matching federal funding commitment.”

Mr Lucas said state funding was provided for planning and design work and the start of construction on four-laning work on the remaining two-lane sections of North Ward Road (Denham Street, Eyre Street, Warburton Street, Bundock Street and Percy Street) in Townsville and on a section of Hervey's Range Road in Thuringowa.

“There is also $1.2 million in 2007-08 to begin a project to widen a section of Hervey's Range Developmental Road between the Thuringowa Dump and Granitevale Road.”

Mr Lucas said the two-year program included significant new funding for the Gregory Developmental Road, to that announced in the budget, with total two-year funding increased to $20 million.

Mr Lucas said Gregory Developmental Road projects over the next two years included:

• On the southern section, between Charters Towers and the Belyando Crossing, widening a 20km section from north of Victoria Creek to south of Victoria Downs, on which work began recently and will be completed in late 2007
• On the northern section, between ChartersTowers and The Lynd, construction will start by mid 2007 to widen a section extending from 1km south of Airport Road to 8km north of East Paddy Creek
• Also on the northern section, widening of a section 2.7km north of One Mile Gin Creek to 300m south of Ryan's Creek and work to repair and strengthen the road pavement between Rocky Gin Creek and One Mile Gin Creek.

Mr Lucas said the Bowen area was also benefiting from the two-year roads program.

“With $12 million over the next two years, the final stage of the Cerito to Newlands Mine road will be completed, along with an associated project to complete repairs and strengthening of the existing sealed road south of the mine to the town of Glenden,” he said.

“The Cerito to Newlands Mine Road is a new 23km sealed link which will provide more reliable access – particularly for employment – between the Bowen Basin coalfields and Collinsville.”

The road will run from the Newlands Mine, 31km north of Glenden, to the Bowen Developmental Road.

Newlands Coal Ltd has provided the funds for the upgrading work on the existing sealed section of the road south of the mine, as part of its contribution to the projects.

“On the Bowen Developmental Road, $3.3 million is allocated for work to repair and strengthen the road pavement,” he said.

Mr Lucas said the State Government was also managing delivery of the federally funded Bruce Highway upgrade south of Tully.

“The Federal Government has committed $128 million, spread over the next three years, for the upgrade along a 15km section from Corduroy Creek to TullyHigh School.”

“Preliminary design work has been completed, with detailed design now underway and construction scheduled to start after the wet season in 2007.”

Mr Lucas said all local governments would benefit from Transport Infrastructure Scheme (TIDS) funding, under which the state government, through Main Roads, was providing almost $8 million to North Queensland local governments over the next two years.

“For example, in Hinchinbrook Shire, there is funding towards progressive sealing of Hawkins Creek Road and Mt Fox Road.”

“This is in addition to funding provided in 2006-07 for the Ingham-Forrest Beach Road, including installing a roundabout to improve safety at the Menzies and Cassidy Street intersection and repairing and strengthening the surface from Covell Street to Victoria Mill.

“In ChartersTowersCity, the state government will provide a 50% subsidy to council for upgrades and drainage improvement in 2006-07 on Read Road, King Street and Simpson Street and sealing works in 2007-08 on Mt Leyshon, Bluff and Axford Roads.”