The 2020-21 Queensland Budget is set to deliver $26.9 billion towards roads and transport, including a $12.6 billion jointly-funded Bruce Highway plan, as the state sets the path for its economic recovery.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said building on record investment and projects like the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Bypass, the $497 million Mackay Ring Road, M1 upgrades in Logan and on the Gold Coast, and Peninsula Developmental Road upgrades as well as multi-billion dollar Bruce Highway upgrades, the government will also lock in a four-year pipeline of works to spearhead the COVID-19 recovery.
“Over the next four years, Queenslanders will see major projects like the $1 billion Gympie Bypass, $480 million Bruce Highway upgrade between Edmonton and Gordonvale and close to $2 billion in M1 upgrades completed – and some of the state’s largest ever jobs and infrastructure projects kick off,” he said.
“Building on our current and future M1 upgrades, our $1.5 billion second M1 – a 16.1km alternative from the AFL stadium at Cararra to the Marine Precinct at Coomera will start next year.
Bailey said 662 local jobs will be created with the six-laning between Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast, and a further 800 local jobs with the $1 billion Rocky Ring Road.
He added, “We’ll boost the inland freight route from Charters Towers to the New South Wales border, improving efficiency for our freight industry and taking heavy vehicles off the Bruce.
“That’s part of a $15 billion investment in regional roads, transport and statewide programs, backing 13,500 regional jobs.”
According to Bailey, the Bruce Highway remains a major focus, with 33 major projects currently underway, along with the continued delivery of the jointly funded $12.6 billion, 15-year upgrade program.
To add, the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) 2020-21 to 2023-24 will include $280 million over four years for the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
There will be $1.18 billion allocated to targeted road safety programs too. “Every death on the road is a tragedy and we are committed to savings lives and reducing the impact on the community,” said Bailey.
Some of the key road projects, including those being jointly funded with the Australian Government, will include:
- $2.1 billion for Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway upgrades in northern Brisbane.
- $1.53 billion for the Coomera Connector (Stage 1) between Coomera and Nerang.
- $1.065 billion for the Rockhampton Ring Road.
- $1 billion for the M1 between Varsity Lakes and Tugun.
- $1 billion for the M1 between Daisy Hill and Logan Motorway.
- $1 billion for the Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Section D: Woondum to Curra.
- $932.2 million for the Bruce Highway between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway.
- $750 million for the M1 between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill.
- $662.5 million for upgrading the Bruce Highway between Caboolture – Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way.
- $514.3 million for the Haughton River Floodplain upgrade on the Bruce Highway.
- $481 million for the Bruce Highway – Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 3) project to duplicate the highway between Edmonton and Gordonvale.