An important heavy vehicle route in Gregors Creek will soon get a 3.08km bitumen seal after $ 1.035 million was committed under round six of the Liberal and Nationals’ Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, Senator Stoker says.
“This funding will support increased heavy vehicle use, improve safety and reduce travel time, which is why I am proud we have been able to deliver our fair share of funding to make this critical upgrade a reality,” Senator Stoker said.
Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann has welcomed a Federal Government announcement of 50% funding for a $2.07 million upgrade to widen Gregors Creek Road to a seven metre bitumen width.
“Council thanks the Australian Government for its funding support under the heavy vehicle safety and productivity program to ensure that the full length of Gregors Creek Road will be seven metres wide,” he said.
“Earlier this year traffic numbers along Gregors Creek Road hit more than 500 vehicles per day for the first time.”
“People know that they can save 6.5 kilometres one-way by using Gregors Creek compared to the highway route and this widening will result in a considerably safer and more productive road and for commercial vehicles,” he said.
Cr Lehmann said that the $2.07 million widening upgrade will be done at the same time as a $1.2 million upgrade to replace the last single lane bridge on Gregors Creek Road, which is also being 50% funded by the Australian Government.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nationals’ Leader and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the program provides funding to local councils and State and Territory Governments to help fund works designed to improve the safety and efficiency of important heavy vehicle routes around the nation.
“Around Australia we are investing in helping people get home sooner and safer, no matter where they live,” Mr McCormack said.
“That’s why we are continuing to deliver road funding where it’s needed, based mainly on the local knowledge, especially to councils which make up more than 60 per cent of the 93 projects selected under this latest round of funding.”
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said she was very glad to hear that this program will provide the funding to widen and seal the final 3.07 kilometres of the single-lane sections of Gregors Creek Road.
“Vehicles are increasingly chooseing Gregors Creek Road as the shortest route between the Brisbane Valley and Kilcoy, so this project will certainly improve safety and timeliness. Somerset Regional Council will undertake these works and I understand this will be the single largest road upgrade project ever undertaken by them,” Mrs Frecklington said.
More on the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, including a full list of successful Round Six projects, is available at: http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/heavy_vehicle_safety_and_productivity.aspx
Photo: Senator Amanda Stoker with SRC Mayor, Graeme Lehmann.
