The Queensland Government plans to spend $181.7 million road and transport infrastructure for the Northern Queensland district in 2018-19.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the funding for the district was part of the Queensland Government’s record spend on road and transport infrastructure across the state for the third year running, with an overall investment of about $21.7 billion over the next four years.
“We are planning to deliver $1.342 billion of works for this area alone, over the next four years,” he said.
Major projects funded in 2018-19 include:
– Riverway Drive Stage 1, continued duplication of Riverway Drive ($14.9 million in 2018-19)
– Bruce Highway (Ayr to Townsville), start construction of bridges, cane tramway overpasses and intersection upgrades as well as 13.5km of the highway across the Haughton River floodplain for a total cost of $514.3 million (2018-19 $37.7 million)
– Gregory Developmental Rd, continue widening between Charters Towers and The Lynd for a total cost of $42.3 million (2018-19 $14.8 million)
– Flinders Highway (Townsville to Charters Towers), start of pavement strengthening and rehabilitation works for a total cost of $17 million (2018-19 $8 million)
Other works planned for Northern Queensland district include completing upgrades to two bridges on the Bruce Highway at Cattle and Frances Creeks and pavement widening on the Bruce Highway between Deep Creek and Bluewater Creek.
Mr Bailey aid geotechnical works and early investigations were under way for the $100 million North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Project, which will extend eight passing loops for services between Townsville and Rockhampton to improve freight capacity.
“In addition to extending the North Coast line’s freight capacity, we have also fulfilled our election commitment of an additional $50 million towards our total spend of $380 million over five years in the important Townsville to Mount Isa rail corridor, to help upgrade and maintain this vital link to North West Queensland,” he said.
