The Federal Government will commit $75 million towards feasibility projects to accelerate progress on transport infrastructure projects promised during last
The Federal Government will commit $75 million towards feasibility projects to accelerate progress on transport infrastructure projects promised during last year’s federal election.
Queensland will receive $13 million for a number of planning studies, one of which includes accelerating upgrades to the Bruce Highway.
Projects for which planning will be brought forward include the:
- Southern Motorway in Cairns
- Douglas Arterial duplication in Townsville
- Southern approach to Mackay
- Calliope Crossroads between Gladstone and Calliope.
Another $10 million will also be invested to accelerate planning to upgrade missing links on the Gateway Motorway. This includes the northern section between Nudgee Road and the Bruce Highway and the southern section between Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road and the Pacific Motorway.
The multi-million dollar investments come on top of the Government’s election commitment to invest $2.2 billion over five years to carry out upgrades on the Bruce Highway.
In New South Wales, $20 million will be used to conduct a feasibility study into the proposed Western Metro (Green Line) between Parramatta and the CBD while $5 million will be used to look at improvements to the M5 corridor.
The study team will look at improvements to the corridor from Port Botany and Sydney Airport to South West Sydney. According to Minister for Transport Anthony Albanese, Improvements to the corridor have the potential to support strong growth in freight.
The Government will use $12 million to assess the feasibility of Sir Rod Eddington’s transport plan, which was handed to the Victorian Government earlier this year. The money will be used on those projects that proceed to the feasibility stage following the consultation process, which will end later this year.
The Budget also set aside $9 million during the financial year into planning, traffic modelling, scoping works and pre-construction works for the Western Ring Road.
The study will look at reducing congestion on the key freight route, which links to the Port of Melbourne, Geelong and the Melbourne Airport.
South Australia will also receive $3 million for a transport sustainability study for Adelaide. The study will take a long range view by analysing urban congestion to 2030.
It will identify improvements that need to be made in all facets of transport, such as rail, bus and tram, road networks, traffic management, and land use and demand management.
Albanese says the study will also examine capacity constraints at key intersections, including rail crossings.
Of the $75 million figure, $3 million will be spent to develop a strategic framework for transport networks servicing Perth Airport.
The study will identify key transport needs and routes, including public transport, and develop a strategy for the airport and environs, linking with the Metropolitan Freight Strategy.