Mackay and Whitsunday roads to receive $1.2 billion funding boost

The Queensland State Government has recently announced that it will deliver one Queensland's largest road project programs to Mackay and the Whitsundays. 

The region will receive $1.2 billion to improve road safety and boost the local economy as part of the Queensland Transport and Road Infrastructure Program (QTRIP).

“These works will sustain 986 direct jobs throughout the delivery of the four-year program, which is great news for the Mackay region,” said Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Minister Mark Bailey. 

The huge investment into the region will help continue major road projects, some of which are jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Government’s, including: 

• $10.6 million to upgrade the intersection of the Bruce Highway and Sarina Coast Road
• $4.5 million to complete the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of the Bruce Highway and Hay Point Road
• $553.9 million for Stage 1 of the Mackay Ring Road which will support 603 jobs over the life of the project
• $78.4 million for the Mackay Northern Access Upgrade on the Bruce Highway
• $51.7 million to upgrade Sandy Gully Bridge and approaches on the Bruce Highway north of Bowen
• $165 million to continue safety works on the Peak Downs Highway at Eton Range which involves widening, a split carriageway and partial realignment of the existing range.
• $14 million to share between roads in the local government areas of Isaac, Mackay and the Whitsundays

Image courtesy of QLD Government

A complete breakdown of the funding given to Mackay and Whitsundays projects under the QTIP program can be found here. 

The Mackay and Whitsundays roads project program is part of the Queensland Government’s overall planned spending of $20 billion for roads and transport projects in Queensland over four years.