$130 million to bust congestion
07 February 2019
The
Morrison Government will invest $130 million to fix traffic headaches at
exits on the M1,
Mount Lindesay Highway and
Ipswich Motorway corridors.
The projects will improve the local economy and importantly provide a
safer journey home for motorists.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said making it easier and safer to get to
and from work was the focus of the $1 billion
Urban Congestion Fund.
“Getting stuck in traffic means you miss dinner with loved ones, or you
can’t help the kids with homework. I want to give that time back to
hardworking families,” the Prime Minister said.
“We’re tackling traffic trouble spots right across the State to help
improve the lives of Queenslanders.”
Two of the most congested exits off the M1 - exits 41 and 49 - will be
upgraded with $50 million to improve traffic flow and access.
In addition a corridor with one of the poorest safety records in
Queensland will get an upgrade, with $30 million of improvements for
the Mt Lindesay Highway.
RACQ has identified the corridor as having a very high rate of fatal and
serious crashes on the
road.
And $50 million will be used to upgrade the Ipswich Motorway corridor
which suffers from multiple bottlenecks at the Cunningham Highway,
Warrego Highway and Logan Motorway Interchanges.
The congestion busting projects form part of a $244 million package of
works which is being announced across
South East Queensland this week.
Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen said the upgrades to Exit 41 and
49 were vital and one way the Government was easing overcrowded exits to
reduce congestion and get the people of Forde home safer and faster.
“This is a welcome addition to the $1.2 billion we’ve already committed
to the M1. Forde is one of the fastest growing electorates in Australia
and while Labor talks, it is your Coalition Government that is
delivering by investing in infrastructure here and across Australia,” Mr
van Manen said.
Federal Member for Wright Scott Buchholz said the congestion busting
announcement would go a long way in getting the people of Wright to and
from work quicker and be a massive boost for our region.
“This will help improve safety on the Mount Lindesay Highway, allow
local residents to spend more time with their families, and let local
tradies spend more time on the tools rather than being stuck in
traffic,”Mr Buchholz said.
“A stronger economy means more locals travelling to jobs and freight on
the
roads but the downside is increasing traffic congestion, which is
consistently raised with me in Wright and I’m pleased this announcement
will help bring some relief.”
“My community is linked to the Coast and many families make the trek
down the M1 to head to the beach on the weekends or visit relatives and
friends.”
“Many local Wright residents, especially our residents who commute and
our tradies who travel to jobs along the Gold Coast corridor will
welcome these improvements to the M1 that will bust the congestion”
Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said
estimates put the cost of congestion in Australia’s capital cities at
$25 billion per year in 2017-18, projected to increase to $40 billion
per year by 2030.
“The Urban Congestion Fund will deliver a more reliable road network for
commuters and freight, and support critical access to employment centres
and freight hubs,” Minister Tudge said.
“This is as much about hitting those local traffic headaches as it is
about the major highways and providing a safer journey home for
motorists.”
The new local congestion busting infrastructure projects complement an
existing $7.2 billion investment by the Morrison Government into major
urban infrastructure projects in South East Queensland.
This includes Bruce Highway upgrades; the Brisbane Metro; M1 Pacific
Motorway upgrades; the Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Rocklea and
Darra; Cunningham Highway upgrade; Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A;
Gateway Upgrade North; Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Line upgrade; and
Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.
--ENDS--
Source: Australian Government - www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au
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