Hundreds of millions of dollars have been committed in this year’s State Budget to transform major roads around Rockhampton.
Inspecting works on the Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade today, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the budget demonstrated the Government’s commitment to Regional Queensland.
“This is a budget backing Queensland jobs and Queensland business,” the Premier said.
“It is proudly delivering vital infrastructure upgrades for families and industry in the Rockhampton region.
“We’ve announced a record $23 billion investment over four years in Queensland road and transport infrastructure.
“More than 13,500 regional jobs will be supported by that investment, including 1,000 jobs in the Fitzroy region directly linked to roads and rail projects we’re backing over the next four years.
“We know how important it is to provide the local economy with some certainty and we have done that with the major projects that have been prioritised for Rockhampton.”
The Premier said major upgrades being prioritised in the works program would fix traffic bottlenecks in growing communities and improve road safety in the Beef Capital.
Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the jointly-funded Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade was the solution to meeting that growth north of Rocky.
“This project will widen the Bruce Highway from two to four lanes between Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road intersection and Ramsay Creek,” he said.
“Combined with the $36 million Bruce Highway Safety project at Terranova Drive, we will have duplicated nearly five kilometres of the highway through Parkhurst and Glenlee when this project finishes in mid-2020.
Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said residents of Rockhampton’s surrounding communities could look forward to long term solutions to make their drive smoother.
“To the west, we have $75 million of joint funding locked in to duplicate the Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere, while to the east I’m very pleased $80 million in joint-funding has been secured to duplicate sections of the Rockhampton to Yeppoon Road.
“These projects will eventually link up with the $1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road.
“The planning and preservation for the ring road is continuing and this budget confirms our $200 million contribution towards the construction of what will be a region-defining infrastructure project.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the budget had also included $14.9 million for Rockhampton Road Train Access Stage Two works.
“These works will improve safety and more efficient freight delivery, resulting in cost-savings for operators.”
“There’s almost $1.09 billion allocated over four years to Fitzroy region for roads and rail projects in this budget, so local businesses can be assured of a steady pipeline of work in the coming years.
“Road safety is also a major focus of this budget, with an extra $205 million to upgrade intersections, install overtaking lanes install safety barriers and undertake other works to target dangerous roads.
“Earlier this year, we finished upgrades to a series of intersections south of Rockhampton on the Bruce, and works are happening now to install turning lanes at Mogilno Road and Bobs Creek Road.
“We’ll continue to plan and deliver those kinds of targeted safety upgrades thanks to our $12.6 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Plan with the Federal Government.”
Mr Bailey said major roads projects listed in the 2019-20 State Budget, including projects funded in partnership with the Federal Government, included:
- $200 million towards the jointly-funded $1 Billion Rockhampton Ring Road project
- $157 million to duplicate, from two to four lanes, the Bruce Highway Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade (stage 1) between Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road and Parkhurst and safety works at Terranova Drive
- $80 million for the jointly-funded Rockhampton – Yeppoon Road duplication
- $75 million to duplicate, from two to four lanes, a section of the Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere
- $30 million to further improve and upgrade Rockhampton-Emu Park Road for road train access
- $26.7 million to widen and seal the Bruce Highway between Gentle Annie Road and St Arnauds Creek, south of Rockhampton
- $19 million to build six new overtaking lanes on the Capricorn Highway, between Gracemere and Emerald
- $18.3 million safety works on the Bruce Highway, between Nielsen Avenue and Plentiful Creek, north of Rockhampton
- $14.5 million for widening and safety upgrades on Bajool-Port Alma Road
- $9.4 million to build new overtaking lanes at Plentiful Creek on the Bruce Highway, north of Rockhampton
- $5 million to upgrade the Yeppoon Branch Rail Line.
