Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
State Budget delivers for far north Queensland roads
Far north Queensland road initiatives would be targeted with nearly $250 million funding in 2008-09, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
The funding is part of a record $3.235 billion commitment towards roads in the 2008-09 State Budget that will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans.
Mr Pitt said a new bridge being built over the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale was a highlight of the $248.9 million funding for far north roads over the next financial year.
“Work has started on a new bridge over the Mulgrave River on the federally funded Bruce Highway at Gordonvale, with $24.4 million to continue construction of the bridge and approaches,” Mr Pitt said.
“This project will deliver a higher bridge on a better road alignment by the end of 2009.
“Another $4.74 million will see completion of a new two-lane, high-level bridge over the Endeavour River at Marton, on the Endeavour Valley Road north of Cooktown.
“Construction on this new bridge, which will be some 4.5m higher than the existing crossing , has already begun. Subject to weather, the bridge should be open to traffic by early 2009.
“By June next year, motorists on the Peninsula Developmental Road will also be enjoying an additional 25.2km of bitumen seal between Laura and Coen.
“In 2008-09 $7.2 million is allocated to seal a 15.7km section between Lily Creek and Carols Crossing. Another $5.7 million will provide for widening and sealing 9.5km between Carols Crossing and Crocodile Gap.
“The program also features new overtaking lanes on the Bruce Highway and an upgrade at the Warner Road intersection.”
Key projects funded in the 2008-09 Budget include:
• $5.4 million to construct overtaking lanes between Giddens Creek and Babinda on the federally funded Bruce Highway, south of Cairns
• $4.12 million for overtaking lanes on a 3.2km section, between Victory Creek and Jogo Road, on the federally funded Bruce Highway
• $1.43 million to widen and seal the final 3.13km section of the Kennedy Highway, 300m west of Return Creek Bridge to Gunnawurra Road, completing the Kennedy Highway upgrade from Mt Garnet to the Three Ways
• $1.26 million to continue upgrading the intersection of the federally funded Bruce Highway and Warner Road, known locally as Yarrabah Road
• $1.99 million to continue safety works on the Captain Cook Highway.
Mr Pitt said regional councils would also benefit greatly from this year's Budget with $28 million in funding allocated under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
The TIDS program allows local government to access State Government funding for projects on local roads.
Mr Pitt said TIDS allocations for 2008-09 would include:
• $1.19 million for Torres Strait Islands Regional Council, to reconstruct the access road, and $1.4 million to seal roads in the St Pauls Community
• $215,000 for Tablelands Regional Council towards replacement of a bridge on Curtain Fig Tree Road at Yungaburra, and $375,000 to replace a bridge and approaches on Leadingham Creek Road at Dimbulah
• $50,000 for Cairns Regional Council for improvements to the Scott Street and Severin Street intersection
• $38,000 for Cook Shire Council, to seal Bloomfield Road between the causeway and the school access
• $20,000 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council for a passenger set-down area at Mission Beach State School, and $750,000 towards replacement of the Maccarone Bridge at Innisfail.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The funding is part of a record $3.235 billion commitment towards roads in the 2008-09 State Budget that will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans.
Mr Pitt said a new bridge being built over the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale was a highlight of the $248.9 million funding for far north roads over the next financial year.
“Work has started on a new bridge over the Mulgrave River on the federally funded Bruce Highway at Gordonvale, with $24.4 million to continue construction of the bridge and approaches,” Mr Pitt said.
“This project will deliver a higher bridge on a better road alignment by the end of 2009.
“Another $4.74 million will see completion of a new two-lane, high-level bridge over the Endeavour River at Marton, on the Endeavour Valley Road north of Cooktown.
“Construction on this new bridge, which will be some 4.5m higher than the existing crossing , has already begun. Subject to weather, the bridge should be open to traffic by early 2009.
“By June next year, motorists on the Peninsula Developmental Road will also be enjoying an additional 25.2km of bitumen seal between Laura and Coen.
“In 2008-09 $7.2 million is allocated to seal a 15.7km section between Lily Creek and Carols Crossing. Another $5.7 million will provide for widening and sealing 9.5km between Carols Crossing and Crocodile Gap.
“The program also features new overtaking lanes on the Bruce Highway and an upgrade at the Warner Road intersection.”
Key projects funded in the 2008-09 Budget include:
• $5.4 million to construct overtaking lanes between Giddens Creek and Babinda on the federally funded Bruce Highway, south of Cairns
• $4.12 million for overtaking lanes on a 3.2km section, between Victory Creek and Jogo Road, on the federally funded Bruce Highway
• $1.43 million to widen and seal the final 3.13km section of the Kennedy Highway, 300m west of Return Creek Bridge to Gunnawurra Road, completing the Kennedy Highway upgrade from Mt Garnet to the Three Ways
• $1.26 million to continue upgrading the intersection of the federally funded Bruce Highway and Warner Road, known locally as Yarrabah Road
• $1.99 million to continue safety works on the Captain Cook Highway.
Mr Pitt said regional councils would also benefit greatly from this year's Budget with $28 million in funding allocated under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
The TIDS program allows local government to access State Government funding for projects on local roads.
Mr Pitt said TIDS allocations for 2008-09 would include:
• $1.19 million for Torres Strait Islands Regional Council, to reconstruct the access road, and $1.4 million to seal roads in the St Pauls Community
• $215,000 for Tablelands Regional Council towards replacement of a bridge on Curtain Fig Tree Road at Yungaburra, and $375,000 to replace a bridge and approaches on Leadingham Creek Road at Dimbulah
• $50,000 for Cairns Regional Council for improvements to the Scott Street and Severin Street intersection
• $38,000 for Cook Shire Council, to seal Bloomfield Road between the causeway and the school access
• $20,000 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council for a passenger set-down area at Mission Beach State School, and $750,000 towards replacement of the Maccarone Bridge at Innisfail.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819