Australia investing A$112 million for safety upgrades on nine high risk Queensland roads
The Palaszczuk Government is investing $112 million for safety upgrades on nine high risk Queensland roads.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the targeted funding would help to reduce trauma on roads identified as high risk.
“My department identified 26 sections of the state-controlled road network, each about 20 kilometres in length, that are known locations for crashes,” Mr Bailey said.
“While these sections of road represent only 1.4 percent of Queensland’s state-controlled road network, they account for about 10 percent of the state’s fatal and serious injury crashes.
“That’s why we are targeting spending on safety improvements using revenue collected from speed and red-light camera offences.
“From intersection upgrades, wide centre line treatments and audio tactile line-marking, to the installation of safety barriers and improved signage, nine roads have identified by the Targeted Road Safety Program.
“Safety works vary from location to location but share a common goal – reducing Queensland’s road toll.
“Any loss of life on our roads is a tragedy.
“Safety is the Palaszczuk Government’s motivation for continuing to commit funding to upgrade roads and work toward our target of no fatalities on Queensland highways.”
Mr Bailey said roads targeted for upgrades under the Targeted Road Safety Program include:
- Gillies Range Road
- Kennedy Highway
- Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road
- Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road
- Mount Lindesay Highway
- Mount Cotton Road
- New England Highway (Warwick – Wallangarra)
- Beaudesert-Nerang Road
- Captain Cook Highway
Upgrades will be delivered over the next three years with some safety works expected to begin this year.
“Not only will these projects help to reduce road trauma, they’ll also support an average of 91 jobs in regional Queensland during construction,” Mr Bailey said.
“It’s an investment in local jobs and safer roads.”
Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government would deliver a further $40 million for 71 new projects under Safer Roads Sooner and Vulnerable User programs.
“These lower cost projects, also funded by camera detected offences, will target safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists on roads across Queensland,” he said.
Find more information about the Targeted Road Safety Program.
Road treatments to be delivered by the Targeted Road Safety Program are:
| Road Names | Scope | Total Project Cost |
Scheduled commencement |
| Beaudesert-Nerang Road | Installation of audio tactile line marking, install safety barriers and seal resurfacing. |
$4,902,000 |
2018-19 |
| Captain Cook Highway (Cairns – Mossman) | Upgrade of a number of intersections to increase safety and install speed reduction measures near Mossman. |
$2,420,455 |
2019-20 |
| Gillies Range Road | Upgrade signage, installation of audio tactile line marking and install wide centre line treatment towards top of the range where appropriate. |
$18,183,848 |
2019-20 |
| Kennedy Highway (Cairns–Mareeba) | Key intersection upgrades and installation of wide centre line treatment, safety barriers and audio tactile line |
$45,000,000 |
2019-20 |
| Rockhampton–Yeppoon Road | Upgrade of intersection between East Street and Fitzroy Street including improving sight lines, provision of anti-skid treatments and realignment and signalization of the left turn slip land onto Fitzroy Bridge. |
$1,165,000 |
2019-20 |
| Bundaberg–Gin Gin Road | Removal of roadside hazards, installation of safety barriers, audio tactile line marking and right turning lanes |
$6,318,000 |
2018-19 |
| Mount Lindesay Highway | Intersection upgrades installation of safety barriers and line marking and hazard removal |
$14,391,000 |
2018-19 |
| Mount Cotton Road | Upgrade of two intersections to right turning lanes |
$2,359,500 |
2018-19 |
| New England Highway (Warwick – Wallangarra) | Road widening for wide centre line treatment, installation of audio tactile line marking, installation of safety barriers and provision of some right turning lanes |
$19,453,000 |
2020–21 |
