Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps, has welcomed the continuation of a busy program of capital works on the Bruce Highway in the Hinchinbrook electorate, as several projects continue to be progressed and several new projects secure state budget allocations for the first time.

Mr Cripps said after a long campaign to secure funding from the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments, he was delighted to confirm that $8.7 million had been allocated to upgrade and reconfigure the intersections of Bowden Road and Church Road with the Bruce Highway.

“This is an important road safety project for the residents of Townsville’s Northern Beaches living on Bowden Road and Church Road and I’m very pleased the representations I’ve been making on their behalf over the last two years have resulted in a positive outcome” said Mr Cripps.

“I also welcome $12.4 million to widen sections of the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Innisfail, while the replacement of the Arnot Creek Bridge north of Ingham ($10 million) and new overtaking lanes south of Ingham ($9.6 million) are in the budget for the first time” he said.

Mr Cripps said previously announced projects on the Bruce Highway benefiting the Hinchinbrook electorate, including Stage 4 of the Townsville Ring Road ($40 million in 2016/17) and the Cattle/Frances Creek upgrade ($13 million in 2016/17) are confirmed in the state budget.

“While these allocations are listed in the state budget, we must acknowledge that 80 per cent of funding for projects on the Bruce Highway come from the Commonwealth Government, so I would like to recognise the contribution of the Federal LNP Government to these projects”.

“A number of these projects are supposedly part of the Palaszczuk Government’s accelerated works program for North Queensland, but since the initiative was announced in January this year, these projects have not really been accelerated at all, despite Labor’s rhetoric”.

Mr Cripps said the only other transport item in the state budget relevant to the Hinchinbrook electorate was an allocation of $250,000 for lease acquisition at the Port of Mourilyan, which had been carried over in full from the previous year’s budget and was not new funding.