Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Five-year plan for far north roads
Improving regional road networks is the focus of funding in far north Queensland, 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 $773 million for far north Queensland 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 some $773 million in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of far north Queensland roads.”
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.
Far north Queensland project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $9 million to widen pavement on the Kennedy Developmental Road from Three Ways to The Lynd
• $2 million to widen and seal the Kennedy Developmental Road from Oasis to The Lynd, including a $1.2 million contribution from Etheridge Shire Council
• $1.64 million to widen and seal from Gordonvale to Atherton Road (Gillies Highway), Van Park to Atherton
• $1.28 million for improvements to the Anderson Street-McLeod Street intersection
• $810,000 to widen and seal the Gulf Developmental Road, east of Georgetown
• $280,000 for improvements to the Captain Cook Highway-Grove Street intersection
• $40,000 for improvements to the Captain Cook Highway-Collins Avenue intersection.
Local roads will also benefit, with $17 million in allocations provided to local governments in the area 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:
• $1.3 million for Torres Strait Island Regional Council to construct to seal standard on access and village roads at Lockhart River
• $400,000 for Cairns Regional Council to replace the bridge at Hussey Road, Edmonton
• $277,500 for Cairns Regional Council to eliminate a floodway on Machans Beach Road, Machans Beach.
• $245,000 for Tablelands Regional Council to widen, repair and strengthen a section of Bilwon Road, 13km north of Mareeba
• $150,000 for Cairns Regional Council to reconstruct the Cape Tribulation-Bloomfield Road at Mossman to sealed, two-lane standard
• $100,000 for Cook Shire Council for routine maintenance on the Lockhart River access road, 15km west of Lockhart
• $100,000 for Tablelands Regional Council to replace a bridge on Theresa Creek Road, 15km east of Milla Milla
• $60,500 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council for bitumen resealing on Alexander Drive at Flying Fish Point.
The five-year program also confirms far north Queensland projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09, including:
• a $50 million project for a new bridge and approaches over the Mulgrave River on the federally funded Bruce Highway at Gordonvale
• a $8.5 million project to complete a new two-lane, high-level bridge over the Endeavour River at Marton, on the Endeavour Valley Road north of Cooktown
• a $7.1 million project for overtaking lanes on a 3.2km section, between Victory Creek and Jogo Road, on the federally funded Bruce Highway
• a $5.8 million project to construct overtaking lanes between Giddens Creek and Babinda on the federally funded Bruce Highway, south of Cairns.
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 $773 million for far north Queensland 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 some $773 million in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of far north Queensland roads.”
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.
Far north Queensland project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $9 million to widen pavement on the Kennedy Developmental Road from Three Ways to The Lynd
• $2 million to widen and seal the Kennedy Developmental Road from Oasis to The Lynd, including a $1.2 million contribution from Etheridge Shire Council
• $1.64 million to widen and seal from Gordonvale to Atherton Road (Gillies Highway), Van Park to Atherton
• $1.28 million for improvements to the Anderson Street-McLeod Street intersection
• $810,000 to widen and seal the Gulf Developmental Road, east of Georgetown
• $280,000 for improvements to the Captain Cook Highway-Grove Street intersection
• $40,000 for improvements to the Captain Cook Highway-Collins Avenue intersection.
Local roads will also benefit, with $17 million in allocations provided to local governments in the area 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:
• $1.3 million for Torres Strait Island Regional Council to construct to seal standard on access and village roads at Lockhart River
• $400,000 for Cairns Regional Council to replace the bridge at Hussey Road, Edmonton
• $277,500 for Cairns Regional Council to eliminate a floodway on Machans Beach Road, Machans Beach.
• $245,000 for Tablelands Regional Council to widen, repair and strengthen a section of Bilwon Road, 13km north of Mareeba
• $150,000 for Cairns Regional Council to reconstruct the Cape Tribulation-Bloomfield Road at Mossman to sealed, two-lane standard
• $100,000 for Cook Shire Council for routine maintenance on the Lockhart River access road, 15km west of Lockhart
• $100,000 for Tablelands Regional Council to replace a bridge on Theresa Creek Road, 15km east of Milla Milla
• $60,500 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council for bitumen resealing on Alexander Drive at Flying Fish Point.
The five-year program also confirms far north Queensland projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09, including:
• a $50 million project for a new bridge and approaches over the Mulgrave River on the federally funded Bruce Highway at Gordonvale
• a $8.5 million project to complete a new two-lane, high-level bridge over the Endeavour River at Marton, on the Endeavour Valley Road north of Cooktown
• a $7.1 million project for overtaking lanes on a 3.2km section, between Victory Creek and Jogo Road, on the federally funded Bruce Highway
• a $5.8 million project to construct overtaking lanes between Giddens Creek and Babinda on the federally funded Bruce Highway, south of Cairns.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819