Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
State Budget boost for Toowoomba and Dalby roads
Upgrading the New England Highway will be a highlight of funding for Toowoomba and surrounds as part of a record allocation in the State Budget for roads, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
The funding is part of a record $3.235 billion commitment towards roads in the 2008-09 Budget that will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans.
Mr Pitt said the roads investment in the Toowoomba and Dalby areas would improve freight efficiency and safety for local motorists.
“Upgrading the New England Highway will be a major focus, with funds directed towards a range of projects that will help improve safety and traffic flow along the highway as it runs through Toowoomba and on to Crows Nest,” Mr Pitt said.
“The 2008-09 Budget provides $7.1 million to upgrade Ruthven Street between James and Long streets.
“This section of Ruthven Street carries about 22,000 vehicles a day—a figure that is expected to increase to 28,000 in the next decade and up to 35,000 vehicles a day in 20 years.
“This project will help cater for future traffic growth, as well as improve safety and traffic flow now.”
“A centre median planted with trees will help separate north and southbound traffic and there will be provision for street lighting.”
The project will also include additional turning lanes on Ruthven Street (southbound) between James Street and Perth Street, and a dedicated left-turn lane at James Street. The dedicated right-turn and left-turn lanes into James Street will be lengthened.
“The Budget also provides $4 million to upgrade the intersection of Jellicoe and Ruthven streets, and $1 million to upgrade the intersection of North and Ruthven streets,” Mr Pitt said.
“The section south of Spring Street to just past Nelson Street will also be upgraded with a Budget allocation of $8.12 million this year.”
North of the city, $20.7 million will be spent upgrading sections of the New England Highway from Geham to Crows Nest, including $10.7 million to upgrade and realign at Pechey Range, and $10 million to widen and seal the highway between Munro and Pioneer roads.
Other projects funded in the 2008-09 Budget include:
• $2.56 million to rehabilitate and widen Toowoomba to Cecil Plains Road from the roundabout at the end of Carrington Road to O’Mara’s Road
• $2.3 million to widen and seal two sections of the Bunya Highway (Dalby to Kingaroy) north of Bell
• $1.09 million towards replacing a bridge and approaches at Wilkie Creek, 29km west of Dalby, at a total cost of $2.85 million
• $503,000 to replace King Creek Bridge 2km north of Pilton on the Gatton-Clifton Road. The project is expected to cost a total of $2.1 million.
Mr Pitt said new regional councils would also benefit, with funds provided to councils under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
TIDS is a program that allows local government to access State Government funding for projects on local roads.
Projects funded under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in the Toowoomba area include $178,000 for Toowoomba Regional Council to reconstruct the road surface on a 2km section of the Clifton to Pittsworth Road, 6km west of Clifton, and $139,000 to install culverts in Boundary Street South, Westbrook.
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 Budget that will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans.
Mr Pitt said the roads investment in the Toowoomba and Dalby areas would improve freight efficiency and safety for local motorists.
“Upgrading the New England Highway will be a major focus, with funds directed towards a range of projects that will help improve safety and traffic flow along the highway as it runs through Toowoomba and on to Crows Nest,” Mr Pitt said.
“The 2008-09 Budget provides $7.1 million to upgrade Ruthven Street between James and Long streets.
“This section of Ruthven Street carries about 22,000 vehicles a day—a figure that is expected to increase to 28,000 in the next decade and up to 35,000 vehicles a day in 20 years.
“This project will help cater for future traffic growth, as well as improve safety and traffic flow now.”
“A centre median planted with trees will help separate north and southbound traffic and there will be provision for street lighting.”
The project will also include additional turning lanes on Ruthven Street (southbound) between James Street and Perth Street, and a dedicated left-turn lane at James Street. The dedicated right-turn and left-turn lanes into James Street will be lengthened.
“The Budget also provides $4 million to upgrade the intersection of Jellicoe and Ruthven streets, and $1 million to upgrade the intersection of North and Ruthven streets,” Mr Pitt said.
“The section south of Spring Street to just past Nelson Street will also be upgraded with a Budget allocation of $8.12 million this year.”
North of the city, $20.7 million will be spent upgrading sections of the New England Highway from Geham to Crows Nest, including $10.7 million to upgrade and realign at Pechey Range, and $10 million to widen and seal the highway between Munro and Pioneer roads.
Other projects funded in the 2008-09 Budget include:
• $2.56 million to rehabilitate and widen Toowoomba to Cecil Plains Road from the roundabout at the end of Carrington Road to O’Mara’s Road
• $2.3 million to widen and seal two sections of the Bunya Highway (Dalby to Kingaroy) north of Bell
• $1.09 million towards replacing a bridge and approaches at Wilkie Creek, 29km west of Dalby, at a total cost of $2.85 million
• $503,000 to replace King Creek Bridge 2km north of Pilton on the Gatton-Clifton Road. The project is expected to cost a total of $2.1 million.
Mr Pitt said new regional councils would also benefit, with funds provided to councils under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
TIDS is a program that allows local government to access State Government funding for projects on local roads.
Projects funded under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in the Toowoomba area include $178,000 for Toowoomba Regional Council to reconstruct the road surface on a 2km section of the Clifton to Pittsworth Road, 6km west of Clifton, and $139,000 to install culverts in Boundary Street South, Westbrook.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819