Roads big component in Queensland Budget

[kscarbel2]

Australasian Transport News / July 14, 2015

Roads in metro and rural Queensland will see a boost on the back of new budget funding

The Queensland government has made roads a key component of its budget, with a $3.931 billion investment in transport and road programs for 2015/16 in premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's first Budget.

The funding will be invested over the next four years under the Queensland Transport and Road Investment Program, which has received an overall financial boost of $18.8 billion to be spread over roads, rail, marine, public transport and active transport infrastructure.

The major beneficiaries of the roads funding will be the Gateway Motorway North ($175.9 million), the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (172.1 million), the Bruce Highway (146.5 million) and the Peak Downs Highway (12.9 million).

For western Queensland, the state government has targeted 14 road projects to be undertaken across the region over the coming two years.

As part of a $4.6 billion allotment for rural and regional parts of the state, treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the $40 million road funding package that will focus on road widening and sealing.

"We recognise the importance of a safe and reliable road network for people who live and work in western Queensland," Pitt says.

"In many ways, roads are the lifeblood of many rural and regional communities."

"This $40 million investment will deliver a safer and more reliable road network for communities in western parts of the state. It will also provide jobs at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever.

"It will keep road crews on the job in the north west and the south west of our State, regions which are doing it tough as a result of the drought."

Major roads throughout the Gold Coast region will also see an update, with the government investing $161 million ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.