Money from federal programs to upgrade bridges and improve rest areas will be allocated next financial year.
Federal funding to bankroll crucial bridge upgrades to boost freight productivity will be rolled out alongside money to fix the country’s heavy vehicle rest areas from July 1.
Infrastructure minister Warren Truss today launched the first round of the Federal Government’s Bridges Renewal Program and the fourth round of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.
Both programs allow state, territory and local governments to bid for money to spend on trucking-specific projects, and the funding application process will open on July 1 and close on August 28.
“Our new Bridges Renewal Program, announced during the election campaign, will provide $300 million over the next five financial years to cover up to 50 percent of repair and replacement costs for bridges across the nation,” Truss says.
“Round one will focus on projects that are sufficiently advanced that construction can begin in the 2014-15 financial year, so we can get moving on improving access to local communities and increasing productivity through bridges capable of carrying heavier vehicles.”
Truss says councils with projects that are not yet construction ready should prepare their proposals for the second round of funding due the following year.
He says $200 million will be allocated to the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program from July 1 this year to 2019.
Along with financing rest area projects, the program can also fund technology initiatives and road upgrades.
“Round four will deliver $40 million each financial year and cover up to 50 percent of the cost of projects that increase productivity for heavy vehicles and improve the safety environment for heavy vehicle drivers,” Truss says.
He says successful bidders will be announced in the second half of 2014.