$174 million to fast track Queensland road safety projects

Queensland road safety projects will be fast-tracked with a $174.7 million package to enable almost 50 more upgrades to be completed in the next 12 months.

The announcement builds on $296.25 million in joint funding announced in January this year to accelerate the delivery of almost 100 Queensland road safety projects.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said one life lost on Australian roads is one too many.

“That’s why the Australian Government has committed $3 billion for the nationwide Road Safety Program,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Our Government is committed to keeping our communities safe, while securing our economic recovery.

“The funding supports the fast roll-out of life-saving safety works on rural and regional roads, and is another example of the Australian Government working to reduce the number of Australians missing around the dinner table due to tragedies on our roads.”

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the additional funding was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to tackle road safety, while creating more jobs.

"We now have almost $475 million in joint funding announced since the start of the year being rolled out across the state for almost 140 projects, with construction works fast-tracked to provide investment certainty and job security in communities across the state," Mr Bailey said.

“A total of 45 new projects are now being rolled out across the state, with construction works fast-tracked for completion.

“The Palaszczuk Government will be delivering better rest facilities, intersection upgrades, new barriers, extra street lighting and overtaking lanes, audio tactile line-marking and wide centre line treatments on high-risk roads across the state.

“This second round of funding is estimated to support an average of 535 direct jobs over the life of the program of works, with the majority of jobs created in regional Queensland, part of our Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

“We are focused on making roads safer, while supporting employment in regional communities.”

The projects included:

Rest area upgrades (statewide)
$14 million for fatigue management upgrades to roadside rest areas throughout Queensland.

Dawson Highway – Banana to Rolleston (Central Queensland)
$4 million for widening works to reduce the risk of head-on crashes.

Dawson Highway – Rolleston to Springsure (Central Queensland)
$4 million for widening works to reduce the risk of head-on crashes and address surface issues.

Capricorn Highway and Blackwater-Rolleston Road (Central Queensland)
$3.5 million to upgrade the intersection to address crash history.

Gulf Developmental Road (Far North Queensland)
$2.5 million for widening and sealing along the Gulf Developmental Road to create two lanes.

Brisbane Road – Ipswich
$2.5 million for upgrades to the intersection of Brisbane and Braeside roads.

Palmerston Highway – Innisfail to Ravenshoe (Northern Queensland)
$2 million to widen shoulders to create safer roadsides and to install guardrail at high-risk locations.

Carnarvon Hwy and Noondoo‐Thallon Road (Southern Queensland)
$1.5 million for improvements to the intersection of Carnarvon Hwy and Noondoo‐Thallon Road to ensure safe traffic movements on heavy vehicle route.

Federal Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said road safety was a key priority for the Australian Government and this investment in road upgrades would provide a boost to the economy while ensuring Queenslanders can get home sooner and safer.

“Making our roads safer is a critical component of our work to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads and move towards achieving vision zero – that is zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads by 2050,” Mr Buchholz said.

“We are also investing significantly in other life-saving road safety initiatives including the Black Spot Program, Targeted Road Safety Works initiative and Road Safety Innovation Fund.

“This additional funding complements that work, resulting in an even greater roll out of improved infrastructure and roads right across the nation.”

With 174 lives already lost on Queensland's roads this year, Queensland Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders said most of the boosted road safety funding would benefit regional communities and road users.

“Last year was one of the worst in recent years on Queensland roads, with 277 lives lost across the state,” Mr Saunders said.

“Every death on our roads is a tragedy, which is why we have committed record funding to save lives and reduce the impact of trauma on the community.

“Queensland has the largest state-contolled network in Australia, so this funding means we can upgrade more intersections, build more overtaking lanes, seal more roads and widen more road shoulders.

“This year, we’ve also rolled out cameras to target drivers using their phones and not wearing their seatbelts, putting Queensland at the forefront with the most comprehensive camera program in the country.

“These projects will add to the record $27.5 billion in roads and transport projects being delivered by the Palaszczuk Government over the next four years, creating 24,000 jobs.”

The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program is subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions and will deliver life-saving treatments on regional roads and protect vulnerable road users across Queensland, while also supporting local jobs and providing a welcome boost to local economies.

For more information, visit www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au. 

Media contacts:

Deputy Prime Minister – Sarah Holder 0460 306 892
Minister Bailey/Assistant Minister Saunders – Toby Walker 0439 347 875
Assistant Minister Buchholz – Scott O’Connell 0413 424 384