Rocky road-spend spotlight

The $121 million Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade project formed the backdrop this week as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk highlighted road spending for the region. She 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.” The recent Budget also included $14.9 million for Rockhampton Road Train Access Stage Two works. Transport Minister Mark bailey sad almost $1.09 billion was allocated over four years to Fitzroy region for roads and rail projects. 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. Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga at the Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade project.

Rocky road-spend spotlight

Industry Queensland

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