The Royal Automobile Club of Queens welcomes the federal government’s announcement of a $4.1 billion, 10 year commitment to the Bruce Highway.
The RACQ say the funding is a significant step forward in the campaign to save lives and bring the Bruce Highway up to a first-world standard.
The announcement comes only days after the national launch of the AAA and RACQ federal election campaign, calling for a massive injection of funds for infrastructure in Queensland.
“This is a significant announcement by the federal government,” says Paul Turner, RACQ executive general manager advocacy.
“Repairing the Bruce Highway and halting the carnage of 40 deaths a year on that 1700 kilometre section of national highway was the number one federal election priority in Queensland for the Australian Automobile Association and RACQ.
“That makes today’s announcement of an additional $2.4 billion towards a total of $4.1 billion over 10 years a breakthrough after decades of campaigning for a game changing increase in funding for the Bruce.”
“The RACQ has been calling for many of these upgrades for more than a decade, so today’s announcement by the Federal Government is good news for motorists right along the Bruce Highway, from Cairns to Caboolture,” says Turner.
Turner says there was still much to be done for Queensland’s major infrastructure needs and the RACQ looks forward to more announcements from both the major parties in the lead-up to the federal election on September 14.
“Today’s significant announcement will save lives on the Bruce Highway,” says Turner. “This is a start, but nowhere near the end when it comes to upgrading the Bruce Highway to the AusRAP 4 stars rating we require to genuinely save lives.
“Even relatively low cost treatments such as rumble strips, roadside barriers and intersection turning lanes will eliminate one and two star road sections and reduce the death rate along the full length of the road. We look forward to more announcements on additional safety-related funding in the months ahead.
“Still, Queensland motorists should be delighted that today we have seen such a major announcement of vital funding from the Federal Government for our most important road.”
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