$63 million in road upgrade funding is being poured into projects across five Australian states, the federal government announced this week.
The investment will help fund 23 new projects in regional and rural Australia under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP).
SUBSCRIBE to the PowerTorque newsletter
Queensland is the big winner in the heavy vehicle space, with three projects set to benefit freight and transport operators.
The Burdekin Shire Council will widen approximately 900 metres of existing road network to 14 metres width, and will include new kerb and channel, pavement and asphalt surfacing. Four intersections will be upgraded, as well underground drainage, including 369 metres of drainage culverts, six manholes and 12 inlet pits. The upgrades will accommodate access for restricted access vehicles (B-Doubles and A-Doubles) within the Ayr Industrial Estate.
The Mount Isa City Council will deliver a new heavy vehicle wash bay and facilities at Barkly Highway at Kalkadoon.
Lastly in the state, two replacement bridges will be constructed on Kelsey Creek Road. The proposed scope is to replace both timber bridges with precast concrete bridges to a similar length and width which will facilitate heavy vehicle access on Kelsey Creek Road and improve resilience of this road link.
In New South Wales, the Lake Macquarie City Council will rehabilitate 645 metres of Wyee Road, Wyee from Ruttleys Road to Wyee Creek, including pavement reconstruction, drainage upgrades and safety enhancements including construction of 1.5m-2m shoulders, 110m of new safety barrier and replacement of 150m of safety barrier with new barrier, and construct a sealed stopping bay to accommodate heavy vehicles.
Meanwhile in Victoria, the Wellington Shire Council will strengthen Delta Bridge to T44 loading so it can accommodate heavy vehicles and OSOM vehicles. This will include the installation of new, compliant barriers, and the bridge deck will be widened to 7.2m between barriers to meet current standards.
“The federal government is working with local governments to deliver and maintain transport infrastructure that increases productivity and makes our communities safer,” says federal transport minister Catherine King.
“We have increased funding under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program to make sure we continue to invest in better, safer local roads across all states and territories.
“This funding will enable local councils to improve road safety in a way that reduces the burden on them, cutting red tape and administrative burden to allow more money and time to be spent directly on projects.”
In total, this will be:
- $22.4 million for eight projects in New South Wales
- $19.5 million for seven projects in Victoria
- $15.6 million for five projects in Queensland
- $4.8 million for two projects in Tasmania
- $1.4 million for one project in Western Australia
All 23 projects will be delivered by local governments and will receive funding for upgrades including improving road safety with the realignment of roads, shoulder sealing, rumble strips, safety barriers and median changes, widening and sealing roads for heavy vehicle access, new or upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas, replacing and/or strengthening bridges, culverts and causeways, upgrading/raising roads to improve flood resilience, and additional road links between communities to reduce risk of isolation during an emergency.
