Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2008 at 04:05 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
State Budget builds safer roads for Queensland
The ongoing safety of Queensland’s motorists will be ensured through a $3.235 billion contribution towards continuing investment in the state’s roads.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said a key priority of the 2008-09 Budget, announced today, would be the protection and safety of Queensland drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
“Road safety, and a reduction in the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on Queensland’s roads each year, is a whole-of-government concern,” Mr Pitt said.
“Last year, 360 people were killed on the state’s roads. The personal, social and economic costs of this tragic figure are incalculable, and we must all play a part in reducing this toll.
“The 2008-09 Budget contributes towards this vital goal, with $3.235 billion pledged towards investment in Queensland roads, including projects that will contribute towards improving road safety in line with national targets.
“This includes road upgrades that will apply ever-increasing standards of road design to Queensland roads, in an effort to reduce the risk and severity of road crashes.
“The Ipswich Motorway is a prime example. In 2008-09, $320 million in funding will help Main Roads plan for and build a series of upgrades that will apply motorway standards of safety and reliability to this important connection.
“This includes three-metre-wide shoulders to provide safe pull-off areas for motorists, a rationalisation of on and off-ramps to reduce weaving and merging, safer and longer left-side merge ramps and intelligent transport systems such as electronic overhead signs that can alert motorists to hazards ahead.”
Mr Pitt said 2008-09 funding for the Safer Roads Sooner program would also continue.
“In 2008-09, $47 million has been directed towards Safer Roads Sooner projects, as part of a five-year, $235 million program,” Mr Pitt said.
“Across the board, the 2008-09 roads budget reflects a level of funding that will increase transport efficiency and improve safety for Queensland motorists.”
Major safety-related projects highlighted in the State Budget include:
• $200 million towards the federally funded Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Wacol and Darra, at a total estimated cost of $700 million
• $70.7 million to upgrade the Pacific Motorway between the Gateway Motorway and the Logan Motorway and between Nerang and Tugun, at a total estimated cost of $910 million (funded equally by the Australian and Queensland Governments)
• $66 million towards the duplication of Forgan Bridge in Mackay, at a total estimated cost of $128 million
• $34.5 million towards construction of the Bundaberg Ring Road, at a total estimated cost of $92 million
• $32.4 million for construction of the Pacific Paradise interchange and access to David Low Way on the Sunshine Motorway, west of Pacific Paradise, at a total estimated cost of $85 million
• $27.2 million to widen Caloundra Road to four lanes between the Bruce Highway and Pierce Avenue, west of Caloundra, at a total estimated cost of $80 million
• $24 million in federal funding to widen the Bruce Highway in Gympie to four lanes between Kidgell Street and Pine Street, at a total estimated cost of $70.8 million
• $20 million to widen the Gold Coast Highway to four lanes between Government Road and Robert Street, at a total estimated cost of $128 million
• $12.1 million towards paving and sealing the Roma-Taroom Road to support oil and gas development and improve regional community access, at a total estimated cost of $29.7 million
• $10 million to commence realignment of the Dawson Highway at the Calliope Range, at a total estimated cost of $70 million
• $7.5 million to complete the replacement of the Ward River and Woolshed Gully bridges with a single 260 metre long, six metre high, dual lane bridge on the Diamantina Developmental Road, west of Charleville, at a total estimated cost of $15 million
• $7.4 million to widen, repair and strengthen the Flinders Highway at Jardine Valley, between Charters Towers and Hughenden, at a total estimated cost of $8.8 million
• $6.3 million to reconstruct the pavement on the Dawson Highway between Meteor Creek North and Three Chain Road, at a total estimated cost of $6.7 million
• $6.1 million to repair, strengthen and widen the D'Aguilar Highway between Villeneuve Road and Arnolds Road North, east of Kilcoy, at a total estimated cost of $6.3 million
• $5.5 million for paving and sealing sections of the Wills Developmental Road between Gregory and the Doomadgee turnoff, south of Burketown, at a total estimated cost of $7.5 million
• $3.1 million for paving and sealing three sections of the Diamantina Developmental Road between Windorah and Bedourie, at a total estimated cost of $4.4 million.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said a key priority of the 2008-09 Budget, announced today, would be the protection and safety of Queensland drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
“Road safety, and a reduction in the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on Queensland’s roads each year, is a whole-of-government concern,” Mr Pitt said.
“Last year, 360 people were killed on the state’s roads. The personal, social and economic costs of this tragic figure are incalculable, and we must all play a part in reducing this toll.
“The 2008-09 Budget contributes towards this vital goal, with $3.235 billion pledged towards investment in Queensland roads, including projects that will contribute towards improving road safety in line with national targets.
“This includes road upgrades that will apply ever-increasing standards of road design to Queensland roads, in an effort to reduce the risk and severity of road crashes.
“The Ipswich Motorway is a prime example. In 2008-09, $320 million in funding will help Main Roads plan for and build a series of upgrades that will apply motorway standards of safety and reliability to this important connection.
“This includes three-metre-wide shoulders to provide safe pull-off areas for motorists, a rationalisation of on and off-ramps to reduce weaving and merging, safer and longer left-side merge ramps and intelligent transport systems such as electronic overhead signs that can alert motorists to hazards ahead.”
Mr Pitt said 2008-09 funding for the Safer Roads Sooner program would also continue.
“In 2008-09, $47 million has been directed towards Safer Roads Sooner projects, as part of a five-year, $235 million program,” Mr Pitt said.
“Across the board, the 2008-09 roads budget reflects a level of funding that will increase transport efficiency and improve safety for Queensland motorists.”
Major safety-related projects highlighted in the State Budget include:
• $200 million towards the federally funded Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Wacol and Darra, at a total estimated cost of $700 million
• $70.7 million to upgrade the Pacific Motorway between the Gateway Motorway and the Logan Motorway and between Nerang and Tugun, at a total estimated cost of $910 million (funded equally by the Australian and Queensland Governments)
• $66 million towards the duplication of Forgan Bridge in Mackay, at a total estimated cost of $128 million
• $34.5 million towards construction of the Bundaberg Ring Road, at a total estimated cost of $92 million
• $32.4 million for construction of the Pacific Paradise interchange and access to David Low Way on the Sunshine Motorway, west of Pacific Paradise, at a total estimated cost of $85 million
• $27.2 million to widen Caloundra Road to four lanes between the Bruce Highway and Pierce Avenue, west of Caloundra, at a total estimated cost of $80 million
• $24 million in federal funding to widen the Bruce Highway in Gympie to four lanes between Kidgell Street and Pine Street, at a total estimated cost of $70.8 million
• $20 million to widen the Gold Coast Highway to four lanes between Government Road and Robert Street, at a total estimated cost of $128 million
• $12.1 million towards paving and sealing the Roma-Taroom Road to support oil and gas development and improve regional community access, at a total estimated cost of $29.7 million
• $10 million to commence realignment of the Dawson Highway at the Calliope Range, at a total estimated cost of $70 million
• $7.5 million to complete the replacement of the Ward River and Woolshed Gully bridges with a single 260 metre long, six metre high, dual lane bridge on the Diamantina Developmental Road, west of Charleville, at a total estimated cost of $15 million
• $7.4 million to widen, repair and strengthen the Flinders Highway at Jardine Valley, between Charters Towers and Hughenden, at a total estimated cost of $8.8 million
• $6.3 million to reconstruct the pavement on the Dawson Highway between Meteor Creek North and Three Chain Road, at a total estimated cost of $6.7 million
• $6.1 million to repair, strengthen and widen the D'Aguilar Highway between Villeneuve Road and Arnolds Road North, east of Kilcoy, at a total estimated cost of $6.3 million
• $5.5 million for paving and sealing sections of the Wills Developmental Road between Gregory and the Doomadgee turnoff, south of Burketown, at a total estimated cost of $7.5 million
• $3.1 million for paving and sealing three sections of the Diamantina Developmental Road between Windorah and Bedourie, at a total estimated cost of $4.4 million.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819