Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Five-year plan for Mackay/Whitsundays roads
Improving regional road networks is the focus of funding in Mackay and the Whitsundays, as part of a record $16.2 billion five-year roads program released by the Bligh Government today.
The Roads Implementation Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 outlines a $16.2 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland's roads over the next five years, including $582.6 million for Mackay/Whitsunday road projects.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the program—a 22 per cent increase on last year's program—highlighted record funding for regional, rural and remote areas of the state.
“The latest Roads Implementation Program looks over the horizon as part of our longer-term planning for the future of our state’s road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“This government is building tomorrow’s Queensland today and we have allocated a record funding program to achieve this objective,” he said.
“This record funding includes more than $580 million in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of roads in and around the Mackay/Whitsundays region.”
The Roads Implementation Program outlines planned roadworks over a five-year timeframe, with firm funding commitments for projects in the first two years of the program, and indicative plans and allocations for the following three years.
“This unique program gives our stakeholders, clients and suppliers firm commitments they can factor into their own planning,” Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 to 2012-13 Roads Implementation Program included projects outlined in this week’s 2008-09 State Budget, as well as road projects commencing in 2009-10 and beyond.
Mackay/Whitsunday project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $4.6 million for pavement widening works on the Peak Downs Highway, 6.3km north of Nebo
• $3 million for rehabilitation and widening works at Myall Creek, 12km east of Clermont
• $2.7 million for rehabilitation and overlay works on a section of Yakapari-Seaforth Road, 2km north of the Bruce Highway
• $1.3 million for pavement widening on a section of the Marian-Hampden Road, 5km north of Marian.
The Mackay and Whitsundays regional councils will also benefit, with more than $2 million in allocations provided under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in 2009-10.
The TIDS program allows local government to access state government funding to help fund projects on local roads.
TIDS allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $350,000 for Mackay Regional Council to help reconstruct pavement on Paradise Street between Henman Street and George Street
• $221,500 for Mackay Regional Council for various improvements projects for Grasstree Road
• $150,000 for Mackay Regional Council to assist with widening and overlay work on Conway Road.
The five-year program also confirms Mackay/Whitsundays projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09, including:
• a $128 million project to replace Forgan Bridge with a new two-lane bridge by mid-2010
• a $33.6 million project to replace Hospital Bridge, due to open by mid-2009
• three projects worth $38.7 million to upgrade the Mackay-Bucasia Road by duplicating the corridor between Golflinks Road and Phillip Street
• a $6 million project to replace the existing bridge and improve approaches at Twelve Mile Creek on the Oxford Downs-Sarina Road.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The Roads Implementation Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 outlines a $16.2 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland's roads over the next five years, including $582.6 million for Mackay/Whitsunday road projects.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the program—a 22 per cent increase on last year's program—highlighted record funding for regional, rural and remote areas of the state.
“The latest Roads Implementation Program looks over the horizon as part of our longer-term planning for the future of our state’s road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“This government is building tomorrow’s Queensland today and we have allocated a record funding program to achieve this objective,” he said.
“This record funding includes more than $580 million in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of roads in and around the Mackay/Whitsundays region.”
The Roads Implementation Program outlines planned roadworks over a five-year timeframe, with firm funding commitments for projects in the first two years of the program, and indicative plans and allocations for the following three years.
“This unique program gives our stakeholders, clients and suppliers firm commitments they can factor into their own planning,” Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 to 2012-13 Roads Implementation Program included projects outlined in this week’s 2008-09 State Budget, as well as road projects commencing in 2009-10 and beyond.
Mackay/Whitsunday project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $4.6 million for pavement widening works on the Peak Downs Highway, 6.3km north of Nebo
• $3 million for rehabilitation and widening works at Myall Creek, 12km east of Clermont
• $2.7 million for rehabilitation and overlay works on a section of Yakapari-Seaforth Road, 2km north of the Bruce Highway
• $1.3 million for pavement widening on a section of the Marian-Hampden Road, 5km north of Marian.
The Mackay and Whitsundays regional councils will also benefit, with more than $2 million in allocations provided under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in 2009-10.
The TIDS program allows local government to access state government funding to help fund projects on local roads.
TIDS allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $350,000 for Mackay Regional Council to help reconstruct pavement on Paradise Street between Henman Street and George Street
• $221,500 for Mackay Regional Council for various improvements projects for Grasstree Road
• $150,000 for Mackay Regional Council to assist with widening and overlay work on Conway Road.
The five-year program also confirms Mackay/Whitsundays projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09, including:
• a $128 million project to replace Forgan Bridge with a new two-lane bridge by mid-2010
• a $33.6 million project to replace Hospital Bridge, due to open by mid-2009
• three projects worth $38.7 million to upgrade the Mackay-Bucasia Road by duplicating the corridor between Golflinks Road and Phillip Street
• a $6 million project to replace the existing bridge and improve approaches at Twelve Mile Creek on the Oxford Downs-Sarina Road.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819