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Work begins on Townsville Port Access Road

New port project to boost road train efficiency in and around Port of Townsville

Work has started on Townsville’s $190 million Port Access Road, which is designed to boost efficiency in and around one of Queensland’s growing ports.

The project, which has been brought forward and will now be completed in 2011 instead of 2012, will link the Flinders and Bruce highways to the Port of Townsville.

Once completed, the road will mean road trains will not be required to break down into single trailers on the outskirts of Townsville before accessing the port via semi-suburban roads.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese says the road will allow the vehicles to drive directly to the port to remove their trailers, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

The Government expects the project may attract up to $10 billion in investment, with Albanese saying the road will improve access for the livestock, sugar and mining industries.

He says it will also allow the region’s vital industries to move goods to and from the Port of Townsville quickly and safely.

“The Port Access Road project demonstrates the Government’s commitment to providing North Queensland with high-quality, well-planned roads,” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.

“Improving the links between existing freight routes and major export points like the Port of Townsville is vital to Australia’s future prosperity and national productivity.”

The project will be staggered across two stages, with the Stuart Bypass stage one and the Eastern Access Corridor stage two.

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