Building better roads to support regional growth
With Queensland growing rapidly, the State Government is focusing on building and improving safe and accessible transport routes to benefit the growth of regional Queensland.
This is shown by more than half of the $32.1 billion Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP), announced in this year’s State Budget, being focused on regions (outside Brisbane, Ipswich and Redlands).
The pipeline of investment outlined in QTRIP across regional Queensland is estimated to support an average
of 14,850 direct jobs and fund major regional projects, including:
- $1.065 billion Rockhampton Ring Road, including a $280 million package of works committed in the forward estimates for the first phase of construction (early works).
- $1 billion Bruce Highway (Cooroy to Curra) Section D, construction
- $1 billion funding commitment for the Inland Freight Route, Charters Towers to Mungindi
- $359 million Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield, upgrade
- $336 million Bruce Highway, Tiaro Bypass, construct four lane bypass
- $300 million Cairns Western Arterial Road, Redlynch Connector Road to Captain Cook Highway duplication
- $280 million Townsville Ring Road (Stage 5)
- $262.5 million funding commitment for Kuranda Range Road upgrade. Project details and timing subject to further planning and negotiation with the Australian Government.
- $187.4 million towards Walkerston Bypass
- $182.5 million funding commitment for Outback Way future priorities.
These projects are jointly funded with the Australian Government.