ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS WITH RECORD BUDGET

The road to success is paved with a record $3.05 billion State Budget boost for roads infrastructure, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today.

"This budget delivers for Queensland roads, reflecting a massive 54% increase over last year's budget," Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said that the $3.05 billion in capital funding provided next financial year for road improvements and other initiatives across the state represented an increased commitment of $1.07 billion for the state's road network.

"Main Roads looks after 33,500km of roads and more than 6,500 bridges and major culverts, with a total asset value of almost $35 billion,'' he said.

"Road works are a long-term investment delivering safer, more efficient and more convenient transport for both industry and the general community."

Mr Lucas also announced details of the new record five-year $13.3 billion Roads Implementation Program (RIP) as part of the State Budget process.

Mr Lucas said proposed expenditure for the 2007-08 to 2011-12 RIP is another record spend, up $1.75 billion, or 15 per cent, over last year's five-year program which totalled $11.55 billion.

"The funding boost is even more dramatic when you compare the estimated expenditure over the next five years with spending over the past five years. The total increase for the five-year period is $5.3 billion, or 67 per cent,'' he said.

"This new RIP is another record for funding of road projects, as the Queensland Government continues its commitment to deliver the infrastructure required to build a better future for this state.

"The Beattie Government continues to deliver to regional, rural and remote areas of the state, with a more than $3.3 billion investment on roads outside the south-east corner over the next five years.''

Mr Lucas said every $1 million spent on roads provides 17 jobs in road construction and related industries.

"We're building on the state's economic strength and providing a strong, diversified economy through efficient and effective transport,'' he said.

"This government is committed to providing safe and secure communities through safer roads.

"The 2007-08 roads budget reflects a level of funding that will boost transport efficiency and improve safety for road users throughout the state.''

Media contact: Robert Hoge 3237 1942 or
Darren Roberts 3237 1947

South East Queensland

$691.2 million to continue Queensland's largest single road project to construct a second Gateway Bridge river crossing and to increase capacity on the Gateway Motorway between Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road and Nudgee Road at a total estimated cost of $1.88 billion, with scheduled completion by mid 2011.
$179.7 million towards continuation of construction of the $543 million ($423 million - State; $120 million - Australian Government) four-lane bypass on the Pacific Motorway between Tugun and Tweed Heads, with scheduled completion by the middle of 2008.
$163.5 million towards the federally-funded upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway between Wacol and Darra; and $121 million towards the continuation of works to upgrade the Ipswich/Logan Motorway interchange; and $100 million towards the federally-funded $2.3 billion six-lane Goodna Bypass from Dinmore to the Logan Motorway at Gailes, which was announced by the Australian Government in March 2007.
$134.4 million towards the construction of the South West Arterial (Springfield to Ripley to Yamanto extension) at a total estimated cost of $366 million to service new growth areas in Ipswich City, with scheduled completion by mid 2009.
$133.7 million for duplication of the Sunshine Motorway between Sippy Downs and Pacific Paradise, including the second Maroochy River bridge and major interchanges at Mooloolaba and Maroochydore Road and Pacific Paradise, at a total estimated cost of $290 million.
$98.7 million towards widening the Bruce Highway to six lanes between Uhlmann Road and Caboolture, at a total estimated cost of $183 million.
$58.2 million to continue construction of the $109.9 million grade separation of the Mt Lindesay Arterial and the rail line at Acacia Ridge ($85 million - State; $25 million - Australian Government).
$57.2 million towards planning and early works for the Western Arterial, (Centenary Highway), as part of the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor project.
$36.3 million to construct 5km of the new Caloundra-Mooloolaba Road between Caloundra Road and Creekside Boulevard, at a total cost of $75 million.
$35 million for continuing construction on the $90.2 million project to duplicate the Mt Lindesay Highway from Green/Fedrick Streets to Rosia Road.

Southern Queensland

$18 million for the provision of four lanes on the New England Highway through Highfields, north of Toowoomba, in conjunction with a program of widening, overtaking lanes and intersection improvements north to Crows Nest, at a total estimated cost of $27.3 million.
$12.3 million towards widening and upgrading of Roma-Taroom Road to support oil and gas development and improve regional community access, at a total estimated cost of $29.7 million.
$10.6 million towards route lighting for traffic and pedestrian safety, signal upgrades, intersection improvements and four-laning of various short sections of Ruthven Street in Toowoomba.
$9.9 million towards construction of the Bundaberg Ring Road to provide an alternative route from the Isis Highway to the industrial areas and the port to the east of Bundaberg City, at a total estimated cost of $92 million.
$2.4 million to continue the replacement of the single lane Ward River Bridge and the adjacent two span, single lane bridge over Woolshed Gully, on the Diamantina Developmental Road west of Charleville, at a total estimated cost of $11 million.

Central Queensland

$36.1 million towards the Accelerated Road Rehabilitation Program to rehabilitate and widen 71 kilometres of the Dawson Highway between Gladstone and Banana, and replace eleven timber bridges in Central Queensland at a total cost of $78.9 million.
In Mackay, $15.2 million towards the duplication of the Forgan Bridge at a total estimated cost of $70.9 million and $15.4 million towards construction of Hospital Bridge at a total estimated cost of $33.6 million.
$6.5 million towards the replacement of Sandy Creek Bridge on Homebush Road in Mackay, at a total cost of $8 million.
$5.4 million towards rehabilitation and widening west of Yamala, on the Capricorn Highway (Duaringa-Emerald), at a total cost of $8.9 million.

North Queensland

$58.3 million towards Stages 2 and 3 of the Townsville Ring Road, at a total estimated cost of $119.3 million, with $79.5 million provided by the Australian Government.
$40.3 million to improve flood immunity on the federally-funded Bruce Highway between Corduroy Creek and Banyan Creek, south of Tully, at a total estimated cost of $172.8 million.
$17.8 million towards duplication of North Ward Road in Townsville - between William Street and Ingham Road and between Walker Street and Heatley Parade, at a total estimated cost of $33.8 million.
$9.3 million towards widening the existing narrow formation sections of the Kennedy Highway, south of Mt Garnet, to provide a minimum eight-metre wide sealed pavement, at a total estimated cost of $14 million.
$9 million towards widening the single-lane bitumen sections of the Burke Developmental Road, to provide a minimum seal width of eight metres, widening or removing narrow grids and improving visibility through sections of poor alignment, at a total estimated cost of $28 million.
$5.6 million towards widening Mulgrave Road in Cairns between Ray Jones Drive (Woree) and the Captain Cook Highway - Sheridan Street - from four to six lanes, at a total estimated cost of $16 million.