Final stage of Mackay-Bucasia Road upgrade begins

The final stage of the four-lane upgrade of Mackay-Bucasia Road in Mackay's booming northern beaches area has started.

Main Roads and Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the works would improve safety and traffic flow to the expanding residential and tourist areas of the northern beaches.

"The Beattie Government made a commitment during the 2006 election campaign to provide the northern beaches residents with four lanes between Eimeo Road and Phillip Street,” Mr Pitt said.

“This project will make this promise a reality. Work started last week to upgrade this busy arterial link, which now carries up to 18,000 vehicles a day.”

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt, who represented the Minister at a site inspection today, said drivers would notice a significant improvement in travel times, particularly during peak hour, when this project and the Golflinks/Habana Road intersection upgrade were completed.

Work on the duplication is expected to finish in September 2008. The intersection works at Golflinks/Habana Road intersection will start in mid-2008 and end mid-2009.

Vassallo Construction will build the project under a $13 million contract, with some preconstruction activities commencing on site this week.

The project extends 3.7km from the Phillip Street intersection to the Golflinks Road/Habana Road roundabout.

Ms Jarratt said as well as providing extra lanes on the western side of the existing road, the project also included wide shoulders to cater for cyclists, improved drainage and a central median between the carriageways.

"There will also be intersection works at Phillip Street, Baxter Drive and Beaconsfield Road and low-noise asphalt for residents between Phillip Street and Baxter Drive," she said.

"As a part of the road works, a new bridge over the Mackay Harbour rail line will also be constructed."

Mr Pitt said the project would complement the $17 million that Main Roads had already spent on the Mackay-Bucasia Road since 2000.

The project is part of the long-term strategy detailed in the Mackay-Bucasia Road Corridor Study, which focuses on upgrade requirements between the Bruce Highway and Eimeo Road.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Ms Jarratt's Office 4945 3343