The second round of joint funding for upgrades to Queensland roads and highways includes $14 million for upgrades to 22 roadside rest areas located around the state.
Federal Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said road safety was a key priority for the Australian Government and this investment in road upgrades would provide a boost to the economy while ensuring Queenslanders can get home sooner and safer.
The rest area funding consists of $11.2 million from the Commonwealth Government and $2.8 million from the Queensland State Government.
Queensland road safety projects will be fast-tracked with a total package valued at $174.7 million to enable almost 50 more upgrades to be completed in the next 12 months.
This week’s announcement follows on from the $296.25 million in Federal-State joint funding announced in January this year to accelerate the delivery of almost 100 Queensland road safety projects.
“The funding supports the fast roll-out of life-saving safety works on rural and regional roads, and is another example of the Australian Government working to reduce the number of Australians missing around the dinner table due to tragedies on our roads,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce.
In addition to delivering better rest facilities, the Palaszczuk Government is committed to providing intersection upgrades, new barriers, extra street lighting and overtaking lanes, audio tactile line-marking and wide centre line treatments on high-risk roads across the state.