$2.5 million for safer roads in Roma and the South West

Motorists of Roma and Queensland’s South West will benefit from speed and red light camera fines with local roads receiving a $2.5 million safety boost, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, announced today.

“Seven projects in the South West are among 77 high priority road safety initiatives to share in more than $46 million statewide under the Beattie Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.

“It puts fines collected from motorists for speed and red light camera offences back into road safety to save lives,” Mr Lucas said.

The Safer Roads Sooner program will contribute the first $800,000 instalment in the planned $1.6 safety upgrade of the Carnarvon Highway in Bungil Shire, Roma Town and Warroo Shire.

Other projects in the region include:

·$300,000 over two years from 2007-08 for intersection improvements of Carnarvon Highway/McDowall Street in Roma Town. Works involve installing new traffic signals with turn arrow and dedicated turn lanes.

·$500,000 over two years from 2007-08 for safety improvements on the Diamantina Developmental Road in Murweh and Quilpie shires. Works involve removing roadside hazards, sealing shoulders, improving road markings and upgrading rail crossing.

·$500,000 over two years from 2007-08 for safety improvements on the Bulloo Developmental Road in Paroo Shire. Works involve removing roadside hazards, sealing shoulders, improving road markings and installing advisory speed signs on curves.

·$300,000 in 2008-09 for safety improvements for the Mitchell Highway in Murweh Shire. Works involve removing roadside hazards, sealing shoulders, improving roads markings and installing edge lines.

·$800,000 in 2008-09 to start a $1.6m project for safety improvements on the Carnarvon Highway in Bungil Shire, Roma Town and Warroo Shire. Works involve removing roadside hazards, sealing shoulders, improving road markings and installing edge lines.

·$50,000 in 2008-09 for various roads in Bulloo, Murweh, Paroo and Quilpie shires to install fatigue warning signs.

·$50,000 in 2008-09 for installing speed and fatigue warning signs on various roads in Bendemere, Booringa, Bulloo, Bungil, Murilla, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Roma Town, Taroom, Warroo and Quilpie shires.

261 safety projects in total have been approved since 2005 by the Safer Roads Sooner Ministerial Advisory Committee chaired by Parliamentary secretary for Main Roads, Andrew McNamara.

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 decision makers.

“To qualify for a share of the more than $46 million in funding, projects must have clear potential to help reduce the road toll.

“We’ve targeted projects which will make the biggest impact on road safety,” Mr McNamara said.

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

“The money we receive in fines from motorists who speed and run red lights is being spent where it can do the most good – saving lives and debilitating injuries on Queensland roads.

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

“More than half of the third round of Safer Roads Sooner program is being spent outside of south-east Queensland.

“It’s a sound investment in the state’s future,” Mr Lucas said.