Queensland Government will build four rest areas by end of 2010 financial year, with five more promised by 2014
The Queensland Government will build four new heavy vehicle rest areas by the end of the 2010 financial year, with five more promised by 2014.
The new facilities will be built on the Burnett and Leichhardt highways, the Capricorn Highway and Gregory Developmental Road, between Belyando Crossing and Charters Towers.
Minister for Main Roads Warren Pitt says the rest areas will combat driver fatigue, with the $5 million in funding coming from red light and speed camera infringements.
“Currently, $900,000 has been allocated for the rest areas on the Burnett and Leichhardt highways, and $800,000 has been committed for the rest areas on the Capricorn Highway and the Gregory Developmental Road,” Pitt says.
He says managing driver fatigue is vital to reducing the road toll, and is one of Main Roads’ key priorities.
The plans follow an announcement earlier this week of a $10 million road-widening project on routes in the same remote North Queensland district.
Pitt said earlier growing economic importance of the roads and the volume of trucks using the routes had made the works necessary.
“Main Roads recognises the important role the trucking industry plays not only in connecting communities, but in driving Queensland’s economic performance and prosperity,” he says.