Safer intersection for Hervey Bay sooner

Speed and red light camera fines are being invested in a $200,000 dollar upgrade of a key Hervey Bay intersection.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, said the intersection of Booral Road and Main Street would receive a safety makeover as party of a state wide strategy to reduce the road toll.

“The intersection will gain a painted median and a dedicated right turn lane into Main Street, and its being paid for by speeding motorists and red light runners,” Mr Lucas said.

Main Street intersection is one of 77 high priority projects worth more than $46 million approved by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Main Roads, and Member for Hervey Bay, Andrew McNamara.

“It’s an intersection under considerable pressure with traffic volume using Booral Road and Main Street growing by about 8 percent every year.

“This upgrade will deliver substantial road safety benefits for motorists.

“With Safer Roads Sooner the primary focus is projects with potential to reduce the state’s road toll.

“The committee has targeted projects which will make the biggest impact on road safety,” Mr McNamara said.

In all, a total of 261 projects have been made possible by the Beattie Government’s Safer Road Sooner program since beginning in 2005.

Professor Mary Sheehan from Queensland University of Technology's accident research group, CARRS-Q and the RACQ are among the committee’s panel of road safety experts and key project decision makers.

Mr Lucas said the Safer Roads Sooner strategy aims to reduce Queensland's road toll through smart targeted investment in better road infrastructure.

“This program clearly demonstrates the money we take in fines from motorists caught by speed and red light cameras is being invested in the road network to save lives and reduce serious life changing injuries.

“We’re putting the proceeds of traffic fines to work on building safer roads.

“More than half of third round of Safer Roads Sooner is being spent outside of south-east Queensland,” Mr Lucas said.

Media Contact:  Darren Roberts     0448 184 566