Published Friday, 06 June, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Joint Levee Road provides long term solution to Malcomson Street
Work on the Joint Levee Road will provide a long term solution to concerns raised about Malcomson Street, Main Roads Minister said today.
In the near to medium term – over the next 18 months ¬– maintenance works on Malcolmson Street that are scheduled to start later this month will be undertaken as an appropriate holding measure.
This maintenance will precede more extensive works to upgrade Malcolmson Street when the Joint Levee Road project is finished.
Mr Pitt said work on the Joint Levee Road was progressing well with the work on Stage 1 due to finish at the end of this month.
"When the new road is finished in late 2009 it will provide a dedicated heavy vehicle route to the Harbour and provide an alternative to Malcomson Street.
"The Joint Levee Road will be a great asset to the community and once it is complete it will minimise disruption to traffic when work is undertaken on Malcomson Street," Mr Pitt said.
Main Roads Regional Director Ian Husband said Main Roads acknowledged the need for work on Malcomson Street, but that to commence work prior to the completion of the Joint Levee Road would result in severe traffic delays, particularly during peak periods.
"The rehabilitation of the pavement in Malcomson Street would have been completed more than five years ago had the original attempt to construct the Joint Levee Road had not been stopped by a vocal minority in early 2000," Mr Husband said.
"The current Joint Levee Road project, which commenced in October 2007, was adopted when the alternative, the reconstruction of Malcomson Street, was categorically rejected by the North Mackay community," he said.
"Once the Joint Levee Road is complete, Main Roads will carry out the necessary rehabilitation of Malcomson Street.
"In the meantime, maintenance works will be carried out to ensure the existing pavement can perform through the next wet season and until the opening of the Joint Levee Road."
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
In the near to medium term – over the next 18 months ¬– maintenance works on Malcolmson Street that are scheduled to start later this month will be undertaken as an appropriate holding measure.
This maintenance will precede more extensive works to upgrade Malcolmson Street when the Joint Levee Road project is finished.
Mr Pitt said work on the Joint Levee Road was progressing well with the work on Stage 1 due to finish at the end of this month.
"When the new road is finished in late 2009 it will provide a dedicated heavy vehicle route to the Harbour and provide an alternative to Malcomson Street.
"The Joint Levee Road will be a great asset to the community and once it is complete it will minimise disruption to traffic when work is undertaken on Malcomson Street," Mr Pitt said.
Main Roads Regional Director Ian Husband said Main Roads acknowledged the need for work on Malcomson Street, but that to commence work prior to the completion of the Joint Levee Road would result in severe traffic delays, particularly during peak periods.
"The rehabilitation of the pavement in Malcomson Street would have been completed more than five years ago had the original attempt to construct the Joint Levee Road had not been stopped by a vocal minority in early 2000," Mr Husband said.
"The current Joint Levee Road project, which commenced in October 2007, was adopted when the alternative, the reconstruction of Malcomson Street, was categorically rejected by the North Mackay community," he said.
"Once the Joint Levee Road is complete, Main Roads will carry out the necessary rehabilitation of Malcomson Street.
"In the meantime, maintenance works will be carried out to ensure the existing pavement can perform through the next wet season and until the opening of the Joint Levee Road."
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819