The Government will invest more than $3 billion in road projects in 2008-09, including more than half a billion dollars to make an early start on 40 of the road projects it promised in the election campaign.
These projects were not scheduled to be funded until 2009-10; the Government has brought their funding forward by a year.
Today’s Budget Factbox lists these election commitments by state/territory and their cost.
The Government has said it will continue to implement its road funding commitments from 2009- 10 to 2013-14, with the timing and specific funding arrangements to be negotiated with the states and territories.
BUDGET FACT BOX:
Road Funding Promises Brought Forward to 2008-09 Project Budget Commitment
NSW
- Start construction of the Ballina bypass on the Pacific Highway $100 million
- Begin construction of the Bulahdelah bypass on the Pacific Highway $15 million
- Start building the Alstonville bypass $13.6 million
- Upgrade the Great Western Highway from the M4 at Penrith to Katoomba $20.2 million
- Planning of the upgrade of the Katoomba to Lithgow section of the Great Western Highway $2.4 million
- Comprehensive study into the transport needs of the Lower Hunter Region, in conjunction with New South Wales $0.8 million
- A study of the transport needs of the Central West $1 million
- Planning the Bega bypass $1 million TVIC Strengthen and improve capacity on the Westgate Bridge $25 million
VIC
- Strengthen and improve capacity on the Westgate Bridge $25 millionStage 4A of Geelong Ring Road to extend it to Anglesea Road $6.5 million
- Improve the traffic capacity of Melbourne’s Western Ring Road $5 million Plan the Western Highway duplication from Ballarat to Stawell $5 million
- Progress planning and preconstruction activities for the Goulburn Valley Highway Nagambie Bypass $5 million
- Upgrade and improve safety on the Colac-Lavers Hill Road $3 million
- Plan the Princes Highway West duplication between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea $1 million
- Plan Princes Highway East duplication from Traralgon to Sale $0.5 million
QLD
- Upgrade of the Nerang South Interchange on the Pacific Motorway $22.5 million
- Start construction of the Townsville Port Access Road $20 million
- Planning the Dinmore to Goodna upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway $5 million
- Sealing the final 15 kilometres of the Peninsula Development Road between Lakeland and Laura, north of Cairns $4.5 million
- Provide more sealed roads, gravel road and creek crossings in the Cape York region $4.5 million
- Upgrading the Burdekin Bridge between Ayr and Home Hill $4 million
- Complete design work for the Cardwell Range realignment on the Bruce Highway $2 million
- Study looking at solutions for limiting impacts on the Bruce Highway along the Yeppen Floodplain, at Rockhampton $0.5 million
- Start a major reconstruction of the Bruce Highway near Nambour $0.2 million
SA
- Deliver the 23 kilometre Northern Expressway and upgrade Port Wakefield Road $60 million
- Planning the South Road upgrade $12.6 million
- Safety upgrades along the Dukes Highway including overtaking lanes, rest areas and road surfacing $12 million
- Planning a $7.0 million upgrade of the intersection of Victor Harbor Road and Main South Road $0.5 million
WA
- Construction of the New Perth Bunbury Highway $160 million
- Planning the Bunbury Port Access Road (Stage 1) from Estuary Drive to the South Western Highway at Picton $2 million
- Start planning the upgrade of the Kooyong Road to Tonkin Highway section of the Great Eastern Highway $2 million
- Planning the upgrade of the Tonkin Highway between the Leach and Roe Highways $0.5 million
TAS
- Towards a total cost of $14.0 million to upgrade the Bridgewater Bridge, fix structural deficiencies and repair its lifting function $10.8 million
- Upgrade safety on the Midland Highway, including improvements at Constitution Hill and audible line edging along the road between Hobart and Launceston $4.5 million
- Plan the Pontville-Bagdad bypass and new Bridgewater Bridge $1.6 million
- Detailed design of the Kingston Bypass as part of the Government’s $15 million contribution to the project $1.1 million
- Tebrakunna Bridge construction works as part of a North East Freight Roads package $1 million
- Road corridor surveys and environmental and heritage studies for the Brighton bypass and the upgrade of the East Derwent Highway $0.5 million
- Works on Ports Keats Road; Tanami Road; Plenty Highway; and Buntine Highway. $8.8 million