The D’Aguilar Highway has been the site of far too many crashes, with another two lives lost in the past week alone. Now, finally, a series of safety upgrades have begun.
The road’s most recent victims were a 51-year-old truck driver and a 52-year-old primary school teacher, who both lost their lives after the cars they were travelling in collided head-on.
The D’Aguilar Highway connects the Bruce Highway to the Caboolutre, Wamuran, Woodford and Kilcoy communities. Approximately 7800 drivers use it every day.
A $19 million safety improvement project will see upgrades along the highway between Sandy Creek and Kilcoy, which are set to continue until late 2022.
“This much-needed safety improvement project will also protect drivers on this stretch of road, reducing the potential for head-on, rear-end and run-off-road crashes,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says the D’Aguilar Highway is an important link in the state’s road network. As part of the state’s $27.5 billion road and transport plan, he said, “We will be targeting these improvements at locations with a known crash history.
“The D’Aguilar Highway will also be widened to accommodate a wide centre line treatment, which provides greater separation between vehicles travelling in opposite directions and plays an important part in reducing the likelihood of head-on crashes.”
Federal Member for Longman Terry Young added, “Key works on this project will include widening from west of Neurum Road to Sandy Creek Road and from Arnolds Road North to west of Scrubby Creek, installing a wide centre line treatment, extending and replacing culverts, and shoulder widening. New safety barriers and signage will also be installed, along with vegetation management.”