Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
State Budget delivers for northern roads
A record commitment towards Queensland’s roads would see $261 million spent on road improvements for the Townsville area 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 the funds would see completion of a number of major capital works projects for the northern area.
“Chief among these is a major $42.3 million commitment that will enable completion of Stages 2 and 3 of the Townsville Ring Road this year,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Ring Road will meet growth demands on the Bruce Highway and in the northern suburbs of Townsville and Thuringowa.
“The route for the Ring Road extension is clearly visible to passing motorists, with sealing work now well underway.
“The final section of the Ring Road is expected to be built within 10 years and will cross the Bohle Plains from Shaw Road, connecting in just north of the Mt Low Parkway intersection. A further $9.5 million has been allocated in 2008-09 to allow the required land to be secured.”
Mr Pitt said $19.5 million had been allocated to duplicate Hervey Range Road to four lanes between Blackhawk Boulevard and the Ring Road, where works started late last year.
“The four-laning work is due to finish by the end of 2008, and will prepare Hervey Range Road for expected traffic increases when Sections 2 and 3 of the Ring Road are open to traffic later this year.”
A further $34.7 million will see work continue on the federally-funded Bruce Highway upgrade north of Townsville between Woodlands Shopping Centre and Veales Road, which started in April this year.
“When work finishes mid next year, this will see significant improvements to traffic flow in and out of the northern suburbs,” Mr Pitt said.
A $17 million funding commitment will enable the remaining section of North Ward Road between Walker and Gregory Street to be duplicated to four lanes. This project is the last of the three packages of widening work that has seen a number of key intersections between Ingham Road and the city upgraded.
Mr Pitt said public consultation with local residents and stakeholders had identified a strong desire for a roundabout at the Oxley/Eyre Street intersection.
“The existing intersection is on a steep slope and has two intersections in very close vicinity. The new roundabout will greatly improve the safety and efficiency of this intersection,” he said.
“The completed package of works will ultimately improve traffic flow between the City, Strand and Townsville’s western suburbs.”
Mr Pitt also highlighted a further $9.1 million to progress preconstruction activities for the Townsville Port Access Road.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure to support the Port of Townsville, and north west Queensland’s booming mining industry,” he said.
The $190 million project will be jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
The Port Access Road will be built as a two-lane highway initially, including a rail overpass as part of the Stuart Bypass and bridges over Stuart Creek and Ross River.
Mr Pitt said regional and shire councils would also benefit greatly from this year's State Budget with $4.8 million allocated under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) for regional councils in the northern region.
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:
• $1.762 million for Townsville City Council, including $210,000 to install traffic signals at the Bayswater Road and Iluka Street intersection, and $50,000 to reconstruct the road surface on Upper Haughton Road
• $1.512 million for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, including $100,000 for routine maintenance of Butler Bay Road, and $25,000 for passenger set-down facilities
• $800,000 for Charters Towers Regional Council, including $200,000 to improve drainage on the Jumba-Kyong Road, south of Stockyard Creek, and $40,000 to reshape and seal Rees Street
• $483,000 for Hinchinbrook Shire Council, including $22,000 for passenger set-down facilities at Ingham State School
• $235,000 for Burdekin Shire Council, including $100,000 to widen and seal Groper Creek Road
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 the funds would see completion of a number of major capital works projects for the northern area.
“Chief among these is a major $42.3 million commitment that will enable completion of Stages 2 and 3 of the Townsville Ring Road this year,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Ring Road will meet growth demands on the Bruce Highway and in the northern suburbs of Townsville and Thuringowa.
“The route for the Ring Road extension is clearly visible to passing motorists, with sealing work now well underway.
“The final section of the Ring Road is expected to be built within 10 years and will cross the Bohle Plains from Shaw Road, connecting in just north of the Mt Low Parkway intersection. A further $9.5 million has been allocated in 2008-09 to allow the required land to be secured.”
Mr Pitt said $19.5 million had been allocated to duplicate Hervey Range Road to four lanes between Blackhawk Boulevard and the Ring Road, where works started late last year.
“The four-laning work is due to finish by the end of 2008, and will prepare Hervey Range Road for expected traffic increases when Sections 2 and 3 of the Ring Road are open to traffic later this year.”
A further $34.7 million will see work continue on the federally-funded Bruce Highway upgrade north of Townsville between Woodlands Shopping Centre and Veales Road, which started in April this year.
“When work finishes mid next year, this will see significant improvements to traffic flow in and out of the northern suburbs,” Mr Pitt said.
A $17 million funding commitment will enable the remaining section of North Ward Road between Walker and Gregory Street to be duplicated to four lanes. This project is the last of the three packages of widening work that has seen a number of key intersections between Ingham Road and the city upgraded.
Mr Pitt said public consultation with local residents and stakeholders had identified a strong desire for a roundabout at the Oxley/Eyre Street intersection.
“The existing intersection is on a steep slope and has two intersections in very close vicinity. The new roundabout will greatly improve the safety and efficiency of this intersection,” he said.
“The completed package of works will ultimately improve traffic flow between the City, Strand and Townsville’s western suburbs.”
Mr Pitt also highlighted a further $9.1 million to progress preconstruction activities for the Townsville Port Access Road.
“This is a critical piece of infrastructure to support the Port of Townsville, and north west Queensland’s booming mining industry,” he said.
The $190 million project will be jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
The Port Access Road will be built as a two-lane highway initially, including a rail overpass as part of the Stuart Bypass and bridges over Stuart Creek and Ross River.
Mr Pitt said regional and shire councils would also benefit greatly from this year's State Budget with $4.8 million allocated under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) for regional councils in the northern region.
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:
• $1.762 million for Townsville City Council, including $210,000 to install traffic signals at the Bayswater Road and Iluka Street intersection, and $50,000 to reconstruct the road surface on Upper Haughton Road
• $1.512 million for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, including $100,000 for routine maintenance of Butler Bay Road, and $25,000 for passenger set-down facilities
• $800,000 for Charters Towers Regional Council, including $200,000 to improve drainage on the Jumba-Kyong Road, south of Stockyard Creek, and $40,000 to reshape and seal Rees Street
• $483,000 for Hinchinbrook Shire Council, including $22,000 for passenger set-down facilities at Ingham State School
• $235,000 for Burdekin Shire Council, including $100,000 to widen and seal Groper Creek Road
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819