Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
State Budget boost for Gold Coast and Logan roads
A $356 million investment in Gold Coast and Logan roads forms part of a record 2008-09 State Budget for Queensland’s roads, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
A record $3.235 billion commitment will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans, including major projects already underway to help Queensland manage the impacts of rapid population growth.
Mr Pitt said funding for roads in the region would deliver critical road improvements for the growing cities and surrounds, and steer several major projects towards completion in the 2008-09 financial year.
“Today the Queensland Government opened the $543 million Tugun Bypass, which will cut travelling times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads to five minutes,” Mr Pitt said.
“It is a state-of-the-art road designed to slash the costs and impacts of congestion, and it’s the first of a number of projects that will come online over the next year.
"The 2008-09 Budget allocates $20.4 million to upgrade the Nerang South interchange at the junction of the Pacific Motorway and Nielsens Road, at a total estimated cost of $45 million, as part of a joint Queensland and Australian Government project.
"This work is already well underway, and the additional funding will make completion possible by the end of the 2008-09 financial year.
"Another $20 million has been directed towards ongoing works to widen the Gold Coast Highway to four lanes between Government Road and Robert Street, at an estimated total cost of $128 million.
"The Hope Island Road project will also benefit from an additional $18 million to continue widening to four lanes in sections between Santa Barbara Road and Columbus Drive.”
Other 2008-09 allocations include:
• $40.4 million towards the duplication from two to four lanes on the Mt Lindesay Highway between Green Road/Fedrick Street and Rosia Road, at a total estimated cost of $91.1 million
• $10.7 million to complete bus priority works between Broadbeach and Miami, on the Gold Coast Highway, at a total estimated cost of $22 million
• $9 million to continue widening sections of the Smith Street Connection Road to six lanes between the Pacific Motorway and High Street, at a total estimated cost of $68 million
• $9 million to continue realignment of the Tamborine-Oxenford Road to two lanes between Riversdale Road and the Pacific Motorway, at a total estimated cost of $14 million
• $4.5 million for the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking the school campuses at Mabel Park State School on the Springwood Connection Road, at a total estimated cost of $5 million.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 roads Budget—a six per cent increase on last year’s roads investment— would help enhance, rehabilitate and preserve Queensland’s road network.
“This funding increase will see more than $60 million spent on building and preserving Queensland roads each week throughout 2008-09,” Mr Pitt said.
“It means more funding to keep building the critical infrastructure already being constructed across Queensland, and more funding to enhance our planning for future growth.”
"This investment will generate long-term benefits for Gold Coast residents and businesses by delivering safer, more efficient and more convenient transport.”
Mr Pitt said city and regional councils would also benefit, with funding directed to council 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:
• $350,000 for Logan City Council towards pavement reconstruction on Teviot Road between Olsen Road and Clifton Road
• $140,000 for Gold Coast City Council for passenger set-down facilities at Ormeau State School, Mirambeena Drive, Pimpama, with a total state government contribution of $280,000
• $100,000 for bikeway linkages at various locations on the Gold Coast, with a total state government contribution of $225,000.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
A record $3.235 billion commitment will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans, including major projects already underway to help Queensland manage the impacts of rapid population growth.
Mr Pitt said funding for roads in the region would deliver critical road improvements for the growing cities and surrounds, and steer several major projects towards completion in the 2008-09 financial year.
“Today the Queensland Government opened the $543 million Tugun Bypass, which will cut travelling times between Currumbin and Tweed Heads to five minutes,” Mr Pitt said.
“It is a state-of-the-art road designed to slash the costs and impacts of congestion, and it’s the first of a number of projects that will come online over the next year.
"The 2008-09 Budget allocates $20.4 million to upgrade the Nerang South interchange at the junction of the Pacific Motorway and Nielsens Road, at a total estimated cost of $45 million, as part of a joint Queensland and Australian Government project.
"This work is already well underway, and the additional funding will make completion possible by the end of the 2008-09 financial year.
"Another $20 million has been directed towards ongoing works to widen the Gold Coast Highway to four lanes between Government Road and Robert Street, at an estimated total cost of $128 million.
"The Hope Island Road project will also benefit from an additional $18 million to continue widening to four lanes in sections between Santa Barbara Road and Columbus Drive.”
Other 2008-09 allocations include:
• $40.4 million towards the duplication from two to four lanes on the Mt Lindesay Highway between Green Road/Fedrick Street and Rosia Road, at a total estimated cost of $91.1 million
• $10.7 million to complete bus priority works between Broadbeach and Miami, on the Gold Coast Highway, at a total estimated cost of $22 million
• $9 million to continue widening sections of the Smith Street Connection Road to six lanes between the Pacific Motorway and High Street, at a total estimated cost of $68 million
• $9 million to continue realignment of the Tamborine-Oxenford Road to two lanes between Riversdale Road and the Pacific Motorway, at a total estimated cost of $14 million
• $4.5 million for the construction of a pedestrian bridge linking the school campuses at Mabel Park State School on the Springwood Connection Road, at a total estimated cost of $5 million.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 roads Budget—a six per cent increase on last year’s roads investment— would help enhance, rehabilitate and preserve Queensland’s road network.
“This funding increase will see more than $60 million spent on building and preserving Queensland roads each week throughout 2008-09,” Mr Pitt said.
“It means more funding to keep building the critical infrastructure already being constructed across Queensland, and more funding to enhance our planning for future growth.”
"This investment will generate long-term benefits for Gold Coast residents and businesses by delivering safer, more efficient and more convenient transport.”
Mr Pitt said city and regional councils would also benefit, with funding directed to council 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:
• $350,000 for Logan City Council towards pavement reconstruction on Teviot Road between Olsen Road and Clifton Road
• $140,000 for Gold Coast City Council for passenger set-down facilities at Ormeau State School, Mirambeena Drive, Pimpama, with a total state government contribution of $280,000
• $100,000 for bikeway linkages at various locations on the Gold Coast, with a total state government contribution of $225,000.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819