Burke Developmental Road upgrade benefits north-west communities
Published Thursday, 03 July, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Motorists travelling between Cloncurry and the Gulf of Carpentaria are benefiting from safer, improved travelling conditions following the recent completion of the $28 million Burke Developmental Road upgrade.
State Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan MP officially commissioned the project today, which involved widening 140km of narrow sealed road between Cloncurry and north of the Burke and Wills Junction, to provide an 8m two-lane road.
Mrs Kiernan said the state government's upgrade of this key regional road link had provided significant benefits for communities and boosted regional development.
"Previously, two-thirds of this 180km link was single lane bitumen, only 3.6m wide.
"The completion of this project means the road from Cloncurry to north of the Burke and Wills Junction is now an 8m, two-lane road with sealed shoulders.
"The wider road will make it safer for all motorists - eliminating difficulties faced when overtaking on narrow bitumen, particularly when passing long freight vehicles.
"Narrow grids were also widened or removed and some sections re-aligned to improve visibility," Mrs Kiernan said.
Mrs Kiernan said the upgrade had improved safety, reduced freight costs by cutting travelling time and damage to stock, and improved quality of life for residents of the remote communities of Burketown and Doomadgee.
"Regional development will be boosted, particularly as this road is used to export cattle through the Port of Karumba, to move cattle to southern markets and to central and southern fattening areas, and to move mining supplies to Century Mine.
"Transport operators who supply fuel, food and freight to communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria and tourists who travel this road as part of the popular Gulf tourist circuit will also benefit from improved travelling conditions," Mrs Kiernan said.
Minister for Main Roads Warren Pitt said completion of the project ahead of time and under budget was an example of the State government's commitment to delivering roads that meet the needs of regional Queensland.
"Main Roads has done a fantastic job delivering this upgrade since construction commenced in February 2006.
"Widening of 130km of narrow road between Cloncurry and the Burke and Wills Junction was completed in October 2007, $3 million under budget and more than 12 months ahead of schedule.
"This is a great achievement and allowed for additional sections of the road to be widened north of the Burke and Wills Junction.
"Work on this final 12km section, which commenced in October 2007, was completed last month," Mr Pitt said.
At the commissioning, Mrs Kiernan thanked Main Roads and RoadTek project staff for their efforts in delivering the latest project ahead of schedule.
"Motorists driving in the north-west now have an improved driving experience when travelling between Cloncurry and the Burke and Wills Junction. Main Roads should be acknowledged for their efforts in delivering this project," she said.
Mr Pitt said the Burke Developmental Road was one of the many narrow sealed roads throughout outback Queensland, a legacy of the Beef Roads Scheme from 1960 to 1975.
"The Federal Government provided funding under this scheme to assist the grazing industry with faster transportation of stock, replacing droving with moving cattle by road freight, but when funding ceased it left Queensland with a difficult situation to manage.
"The State Government recognised the increasing demands on the Burke Developmental Road from the continued growth of the grazing, mining and tourism industries and sought to boost regional development through a major upgrade of this key regional road link," he said.
Mr Pitt said with the Burke Developmental Road widened south of the Burke and Wills Junction, the focus was now on eliminating narrow sections north of the Burke and Wills Junction, towards Normanton.
The State Government has allocated $2.9 million for a project to widen a section of 260km north of Cloncurry at Donors Hill. The project is due to commence mid July 2008.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
State Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan MP officially commissioned the project today, which involved widening 140km of narrow sealed road between Cloncurry and north of the Burke and Wills Junction, to provide an 8m two-lane road.
Mrs Kiernan said the state government's upgrade of this key regional road link had provided significant benefits for communities and boosted regional development.
"Previously, two-thirds of this 180km link was single lane bitumen, only 3.6m wide.
"The completion of this project means the road from Cloncurry to north of the Burke and Wills Junction is now an 8m, two-lane road with sealed shoulders.
"The wider road will make it safer for all motorists - eliminating difficulties faced when overtaking on narrow bitumen, particularly when passing long freight vehicles.
"Narrow grids were also widened or removed and some sections re-aligned to improve visibility," Mrs Kiernan said.
Mrs Kiernan said the upgrade had improved safety, reduced freight costs by cutting travelling time and damage to stock, and improved quality of life for residents of the remote communities of Burketown and Doomadgee.
"Regional development will be boosted, particularly as this road is used to export cattle through the Port of Karumba, to move cattle to southern markets and to central and southern fattening areas, and to move mining supplies to Century Mine.
"Transport operators who supply fuel, food and freight to communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria and tourists who travel this road as part of the popular Gulf tourist circuit will also benefit from improved travelling conditions," Mrs Kiernan said.
Minister for Main Roads Warren Pitt said completion of the project ahead of time and under budget was an example of the State government's commitment to delivering roads that meet the needs of regional Queensland.
"Main Roads has done a fantastic job delivering this upgrade since construction commenced in February 2006.
"Widening of 130km of narrow road between Cloncurry and the Burke and Wills Junction was completed in October 2007, $3 million under budget and more than 12 months ahead of schedule.
"This is a great achievement and allowed for additional sections of the road to be widened north of the Burke and Wills Junction.
"Work on this final 12km section, which commenced in October 2007, was completed last month," Mr Pitt said.
At the commissioning, Mrs Kiernan thanked Main Roads and RoadTek project staff for their efforts in delivering the latest project ahead of schedule.
"Motorists driving in the north-west now have an improved driving experience when travelling between Cloncurry and the Burke and Wills Junction. Main Roads should be acknowledged for their efforts in delivering this project," she said.
Mr Pitt said the Burke Developmental Road was one of the many narrow sealed roads throughout outback Queensland, a legacy of the Beef Roads Scheme from 1960 to 1975.
"The Federal Government provided funding under this scheme to assist the grazing industry with faster transportation of stock, replacing droving with moving cattle by road freight, but when funding ceased it left Queensland with a difficult situation to manage.
"The State Government recognised the increasing demands on the Burke Developmental Road from the continued growth of the grazing, mining and tourism industries and sought to boost regional development through a major upgrade of this key regional road link," he said.
Mr Pitt said with the Burke Developmental Road widened south of the Burke and Wills Junction, the focus was now on eliminating narrow sections north of the Burke and Wills Junction, towards Normanton.
The State Government has allocated $2.9 million for a project to widen a section of 260km north of Cloncurry at Donors Hill. The project is due to commence mid July 2008.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819