$3 Billion for road projects

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