Budget priority for roads recovery

Date: Tuesday, 21st July 2009

Thousands of tonnes of asphalt will be laid across Townsville as part of a record $83 million blitz on rain-ravaged local roads.

The council‘s Building Better Local Roads program includes $37 million for the fast-tracked construction of North Shore Boulevard as well as a big list of projects on local roads and streets.

Mayor Cr Les Tyrell said the big roads budget would ease traffic congestion in the city’s north and bring local roads back up to standard after a huge wet season.

“The torrential rain earlier this year took an enormous toll on the city roads and a result the council is undertaking a record program of capital works and maintenance to get them back in top shape,” Cr Tyrell said.

“Council road crews did a very good job in difficult conditions this year to fix thousands of potholes city wide.

“Projects in the big road budget will roll out across the city to reconstruct, reseal and resurface roads to provide more permanent repairs to the worse affected areas.”

“I’m also delighted the council is fulfilling its commitment to accelerate the construction of North Shore Boulevard.

“The new road will provide an important alternative link between the Bohle and Mount Low Parkway and while the upgrade to the Bruce Highway intersection has eased congestion, we must stay ahead of the game.”

The roads budget also features a $5.85 million reconstruction program which includes works at Charles St ($600,000), Yolanda Dr ($149,000), Dalrymple Rd ($825,000), Bamford Lane ($876,000), Leeds St ($156,000), Amber Ave ($200,000), Marron Cres to Balls Lane ($117,000), and Ridley Rd from Ross River Rd to Thuringowa Dr ($316,000).

Road in situ stabilisation will be carried out at Macarthur Dr ($385,000), Sandstone Dr from Kern Brothers Dr to Golf Links Drive ($750,000) and Halifax St to Meenan St ($70,000).

A further $7.8 million will be spent on preventive maintenance activities including asphalt overlays and reseals to improve road surfaces.

Scheduled projects include Enterprise St, Blackwood St, Stanley St, Geaney Lane, Sturges St, Gulliver St, Kane St, Eyre St, Isley St, Grant Cres, Cataract Rd, Calcium Rd, Cordingley Crt, Maccabe Cres, Sooning St and Olison St.

The budget also allocates $1.2 million for the first stage of the Angus Smith Dr upgrade and $600,000 to upgrade North Vicker Rd.

A total of $1.6 million will be spent on maintenance of the rural road network including sealed and gravel roads. Gravel re-sheeting to shoulders on sealed roads and re-sheeting of gravel roads totals a further $857,000.

Media information: Cr Les Tyrell 0419 772 618