Budget delivers more record road spending for the Brisbane, Ipswich and Redlands area

The Palaszczuk Government will deliver $418.9 million of road infrastructure for the Metropolitan District of South-East Queensland in 2018-19 – the third straight year of record road investment for the state.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the region was a beneficiary of the blockbuster roads budget being delivered under the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP).

“This will help bust congestion – we don’t want Queenslanders sitting in traffic when they can be at work or home with their kids,” she said.

“Building the roads and rail networks we need supports Queensland jobs today and a strong economy of the future.

“This is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s record spend on road and transport infrastructure across Queensland for the third year running, with an investment of about $21.7 billion over the next four years.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said, “This is $700 million higher than last year’s QTRIP, resulting from a 10% increase in the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment, which offset a disappointing 6.2% reduction in funding from the Federal LNP Government.

“This funding will support about 1,619 jobs in the region as part of the four year QTRIP.

“This will include $2.368 billion of works planned just for this area alone, over the next four years.

“Continuing works on the Ipswich Motorway, Gateway Upgrade North and Veloway 1, as well as getting on with the upgrade of Sumners Road Interchange, are the main focuses for this year’s budget.

“We are also providing $3.7 million in 2018-19 in funding to local governments through the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) to fund the development of transport related infrastructure.”

Mr Bailey said the major projects for the Metropolitan district in 2018-19 included:

• Ipswich Motorway, continue construction of Stage 1 between Rocklea and Darra to upgrade the motorway from four to six lanes, build seven new bridges and two additional service roads for a total cost of $400 million (2018-19 $68 million)
• Gateway Upgrade North, complete construction to widen the Gateway Motorway to six lanes between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge for a total cost of $1.143 billion (2018-19 $45 million)
• Veloway 1, start construction of Stage E of the cycleway between Birdwood Road and Gaza Road at Tarragindi for a total cost of $45 million (2018-19 $17.3 million)
• Centenary Motorway, start construction of the Sumners Road Interchange Upgrade for a total cost of $65 million (2018-19 $14.9 million)
• Pacific Motorway, continue construction of additional southbound lanes on the merge between the Gateway Motorway and the Pacific Motorway at Eight Miles Plains and Rochdale (South Coast district)
• Several Park ‘n’ Ride upgrades and start of design on the Everton Park Link Road connecting Stafford and South Pine Roads

Member for Redlands Kim Richards welcomed the funding for the intersection upgrade at Anita Street on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road, Cleveland.

“This $5 million in funding confirms the election commitment the Minister and I made late last year, and I look forward to seeing this important project progress,” she said.

Member for Springwood Minister Mick de Brenni said works planned for the Metropolitan area include upgrading Mount Cotton Road and Seaview Road intersection.

“Safety is the number one priority, and ongoing upgrades to this busy road are good news for the Redlands community,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Mount Cotton Road is one of the Redlands’ busiest road and carries about 19,000 vehicles each day.

“The upcoming works will include the installation of signals, a pedestrian crossing, new street lighting, pavement widening, relocation of the bus zone and drainage improvements.”

ENDS

Contact: Dominic Geiger, 0447 355 565