Queenslanders are set to benefit from over $500 million in road safety treatments across urban, regional and remote roads, footpaths and cycleways.
Under the Road Safety Program, the Australian Government has committed $255.7 million, with Queensland Government providing joint funding of $255.7 million, sourced through the Camera Detected Offence Program, bringing the total investment to $511.5 million.
This funding will deliver 71 projects for safety upgrades on Queensland’s state-controlled roads to address identified road safety issues that contribute to vehicle crashes.
Of this $511.5 million, $434.2 million has been earmarked for projects in regional and rural Queensland, demonstrating both governments’ focus on supporting our regional communities.
Proposed safety projects include intersection upgrades, lane widening projects, line markings, rest area upgrades, heavy vehicle interception sites and safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.
This funding will see the fast roll-out of lifesaving road safety treatments on Queensland roads, including:
- 22 projects delivering targeted cycling and pedestrian improvements
- 15 projects upgrading intersections
- 16 projects delivering widening including installing wide centre line treatment (WCLT) and barrier
- Four projects improving roads including realigning, sealing unsealed roads and improving signage and visibility
- Four projects delivering and/or improving rest areas/stopping bays
- Three projects installing line marking including WCLT and audio tactile line marking (ATLM)
- One project installing and upgrading barrier
- One project installing overtaking lanes
In addition, five statewide mass action projects have been approved to improve rest areas, install line marking and Township Entry Treatments, and providing heavy vehicle interception sites.
Projects include:
- Old Cleveland Rd – Bicycle Lane construction – approx. 400 meters of new bicycle lane construction including traffic signal modification
- Steve Irwin Way – Beerwah (Southeast Queensland) – increasing safety and visibility for all road users
- Kennedy Highway intersection upgrades – Cairns to Mareeba and Mareeba – Ravenshoe (Far North Queensland) –upgrading intersections to address crash history
- Gatton Helidon Road – Gatton (Southeast Queensland) –for safety treatments on high-speed sections
- Capricorn Highway – Duaringa – Emerald (Central Queensland) –for road safety improvements including WCLT and ATLM
The funding provided by the Australian and Queensland governments will deliver new road safety upgrades and jobs across Queensland. Indigenous and local governments will be engaged to ensure that cultural heritage, knowledge and community expectations are considered, ensuring community support as well as expediting delivery timeframes.
The works are required to be completed by 30 June 2025, improving road safety and supporting an average of 700 jobs in Queensland over the life of the program.
