Published Sunday, 31 August, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Minister inspects progress on Mackay-Bucasia Road upgrade
Access to the growing Northern Beaches of Mackay is being improved as the Queensland Government continues the upgrading and four-laning of Mackay-Bucasia Road, the area’s main arterial route.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt joined Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt today to inspect progress on the $17 million project. The Minister was in the Northern Beaches area as part of the weekend’s Community Cabinet meeting.
Mr Pitt said the Mackay-Bucasia Road project was part of the State Government’s record $17 billion infrastructure construction program this financial year.
“We are committed to building and rebuilding the infrastructure needed to keep pace with the growth being experienced in regional communities such as Mackay and the Northern Beaches,” he said.
“The Mackay-Bucasia Road upgrade, along with the works being undertaken on the Forgan and Hospital bridges, means that Mackay’s road infrastructure will be well placed to cope with continued growth in the future.”
Mr Pitt said that with the upcoming changes to conditions along Mackay-Bucasia Road, it was vital that drivers paid close attention to directional signage and adhered to the speed limits.
"Motorists will be diverted onto the new pavement while various improvement works are undertaken on the existing lanes," he said.
Ms Jarratt said the progress being made on the Mackay-Bucasia Road duplication work was highly visible to drivers travelling on the arterial route.
"Drivers are getting a taste of the benefits they will experience at the completion of the project with the opening of the duplicated section of road between Phillip Street and Baxter Drive,” she said.
"Main Roads is expecting to open more duplicated sections of road to the travelling public towards the end of the year as works are completed.
"There will also be new culverts installed under the existing road to improve drainage south of Holts Road and near Baxter Drive.
"When these works are finished early next year, drivers will find that Mackay-Bucasia Road is safer and more efficient.”
Ms Jarratt said it was pleasing to see the recommendations of the Mackay-Bucasia Corridor Study coming to fruition.
"We have delivered the government's election promises to upgrade the major intersections along Mackay-Bucasia Road and we are now doing the same regarding our commitment to duplicate the road," she said.
"The end result will be a safer, more efficient road network for the people of the Northern Beaches."
Media contacts: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Mrs Jarratt’s Office 4945 3343
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt joined Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt today to inspect progress on the $17 million project. The Minister was in the Northern Beaches area as part of the weekend’s Community Cabinet meeting.
Mr Pitt said the Mackay-Bucasia Road project was part of the State Government’s record $17 billion infrastructure construction program this financial year.
“We are committed to building and rebuilding the infrastructure needed to keep pace with the growth being experienced in regional communities such as Mackay and the Northern Beaches,” he said.
“The Mackay-Bucasia Road upgrade, along with the works being undertaken on the Forgan and Hospital bridges, means that Mackay’s road infrastructure will be well placed to cope with continued growth in the future.”
Mr Pitt said that with the upcoming changes to conditions along Mackay-Bucasia Road, it was vital that drivers paid close attention to directional signage and adhered to the speed limits.
"Motorists will be diverted onto the new pavement while various improvement works are undertaken on the existing lanes," he said.
Ms Jarratt said the progress being made on the Mackay-Bucasia Road duplication work was highly visible to drivers travelling on the arterial route.
"Drivers are getting a taste of the benefits they will experience at the completion of the project with the opening of the duplicated section of road between Phillip Street and Baxter Drive,” she said.
"Main Roads is expecting to open more duplicated sections of road to the travelling public towards the end of the year as works are completed.
"There will also be new culverts installed under the existing road to improve drainage south of Holts Road and near Baxter Drive.
"When these works are finished early next year, drivers will find that Mackay-Bucasia Road is safer and more efficient.”
Ms Jarratt said it was pleasing to see the recommendations of the Mackay-Bucasia Corridor Study coming to fruition.
"We have delivered the government's election promises to upgrade the major intersections along Mackay-Bucasia Road and we are now doing the same regarding our commitment to duplicate the road," she said.
"The end result will be a safer, more efficient road network for the people of the Northern Beaches."
Media contacts: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Mrs Jarratt’s Office 4945 3343