Report highlights need for strong Bruce Highway plan

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the release of the Australian Road Assessment Program report today demonstrated how vital the Bligh Government's Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy is to getting the job done.

Mr Wallace said the report again highlighted the importance of a comprehensive plan to upgrade one of our most important roads.

"The Bruce Highway is a Federally-funded road but only Labor had a plan to take to the Australian Government to get the funds we need," Mr Wallace said.

"Our plan released last month sets out our ultimate vision for a four-lane Bruce Highway from Gympie to Cairns and how we're going to achieve it.

"It identifies 110 priority projects including 340 kilometres of highway duplication, 50 new overtaking lanes, intersection upgrades, bridge replacements and 10 proposed ring roads, bypasses and deviations.

"$2.3 billion has been spent on the Bruce Highway over the past five years but more needs to be done, tha t's why we've developed our comprehensive plan.

"There are currently more than 30 major projects underway on the Bruce Highway including the Townsville Douglas Arterial Duplication, Mackay southern access upgrade, Cooroy to Curra Section B upgrade and Cardwell Range realignment.

"The Bligh Government is constantly knocking on the Federal Government's door asking for more money and we've successfully achieved the bringing forward of Commonwealth funding for a number of projects recently including Wrights Creek Bridge south of Edmonton and the Blacksoil interchange.

"I drive the Bruce Highway regularly, in fact I drove from Brisbane to Townsville over New Year and inspected these major projects along the way.

"The LNP doesn't have a clue what's going on with the Bruce Highway, Campbell Newman has admitted he hasn't driven it in a quarter of a century.

"Mr Newman had said he won't have a plan for the Bruce Highway until at least six months after the election, meaning progress being made on the Bruce would grind to a halt.

"Under the Federal Labor Government, Queensland receives more than $400 million a year for the Bruce Highway, compared to the stingy $100 million a year from John Howard's Liberal-National government.

"We're seeing good progress on the Bruce Highway thanks to the strong partnership between the State and Federal Labor Governments, and the LNP would put the future of the Bruce Highway at risk."

Main Roads, Fisheries and Marine Infrastructure
The Honourable Craig Wallace
19/01/2012
Report highlights need for strong Bruce Highway plan

Permanent Link: Report highlights need for strong Bruce Highway plan
Publish Date: 19 Jan 12

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