Cardwell Range upgrade to include rail overpass
Published Friday, 28 November, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
A road overpass of the rail line at the site of yesterday’s tragic incident near Cardwell is included in a broader upgrade of a section of the Bruce Highway that is currently being designed.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the incident was a tragic loss of life.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased rail employees and all of those affected by yesterday’s incident,” Mr Pitt said.
“A full investigation is underway to identify what happened – not only how it happened, but why it happened.”
Mr Pitt said Main Roads had been working on the Cardwell Range Upgrade Project, which will include a traffic bridge over the North Coast rail line, on behalf of the Federal Government.
“The upgrade project, which involves upgrading 4.5km of the Bruce Highway on the northern side of the Cardwell Range, will greatly improve traffic flow and safety in the area,” he said.
“While the project is designed mainly to fix steep and narrow sections of the Cardwell Range road, it will also include a bridge over the North Coast rail line.
“Planning is now complete and design is well advanced to upgrade this section of the highway, including the provision of a road overpass of the rail line to replace the existing crossing.”
Mr Pitt said the Bruce Highway was part of the national AusLink network, for which the Federal Government had overall funding responsibility.
“The Rudd Government has joined us in recognising the Cardwell Range upgrade as a priority, committing $90 million to the project at the 2007 Federal Election, as part of the Auslink 2 program.
“This is in addition to $6.9 million previously allocated to planning work on the range,” he said.
Auslink 2 is the next five-year federal roads program, and is due to start in July 2009.
Mr Pitt said the timing of construction would depend on the release of funding by the Federal Government, which was currently under negotiation with Main Roads.
“Main Roads is ready to start construction in 2009 if the funding is made available early in the Auslink 2 program,” he said.
“I’ll be talking to my federal counterpart, Anthony Albanese, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, to ensure the funding comes on line as soon as possible.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the incident was a tragic loss of life.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased rail employees and all of those affected by yesterday’s incident,” Mr Pitt said.
“A full investigation is underway to identify what happened – not only how it happened, but why it happened.”
Mr Pitt said Main Roads had been working on the Cardwell Range Upgrade Project, which will include a traffic bridge over the North Coast rail line, on behalf of the Federal Government.
“The upgrade project, which involves upgrading 4.5km of the Bruce Highway on the northern side of the Cardwell Range, will greatly improve traffic flow and safety in the area,” he said.
“While the project is designed mainly to fix steep and narrow sections of the Cardwell Range road, it will also include a bridge over the North Coast rail line.
“Planning is now complete and design is well advanced to upgrade this section of the highway, including the provision of a road overpass of the rail line to replace the existing crossing.”
Mr Pitt said the Bruce Highway was part of the national AusLink network, for which the Federal Government had overall funding responsibility.
“The Rudd Government has joined us in recognising the Cardwell Range upgrade as a priority, committing $90 million to the project at the 2007 Federal Election, as part of the Auslink 2 program.
“This is in addition to $6.9 million previously allocated to planning work on the range,” he said.
Auslink 2 is the next five-year federal roads program, and is due to start in July 2009.
Mr Pitt said the timing of construction would depend on the release of funding by the Federal Government, which was currently under negotiation with Main Roads.
“Main Roads is ready to start construction in 2009 if the funding is made available early in the Auslink 2 program,” he said.
“I’ll be talking to my federal counterpart, Anthony Albanese, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, to ensure the funding comes on line as soon as possible.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819