Regional Queensland is set to benefit from a new wave of locally delivered road upgrades aimed squarely at improving freight resilience, safety and access under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
Projects across the state focus on sealing and widening roads, strengthening bridges and culverts, and improving flood-prone sections of the network that regularly disrupt heavy vehicle movements during wet seasons.
Significant works include upgrades to Fassio Road in Mareeba Shire, where more than $3.1 million will raise standards on a major transport corridor used by heavy vehicles servicing agricultural and regional supply chains.
In the Townsville region, over $8 million will support construction of the internal road network in the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, improving freight connectivity between industrial areas and major arterial routes.
Additional funding will deliver upgrades in the Gatton Industrial Precinct, enhancing Market Drive, Freeman Road and Brooking Drive to support freight and local business access.
For freight operators servicing agriculture, resources and regional construction markets, these local routes are often the weakest links in the supply chain. Improving their resilience reduces weather-related closures, protects vehicle assets and improves delivery reliability.
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain says the funding would help make roads safer.
“We understand that regional councils often need extra financial support to help with meeting increasing costs and continual pressure on transport infrastructure due to climate change and extreme weather.”
Many of the funded works will enhance access for larger vehicles by addressing shoulder strength, intersection geometry and load-limited structures. These upgrades also support safer interactions between freight, local traffic and roadside communities.
With most projects delivered by councils, the program recognises the importance of investing where freight demand and asset vulnerability intersect, particularly in regions experiencing more frequent extreme weather.
While modest in scale individually, the Queensland projects collectively strengthen the freight network’s ability to withstand disruption and support continued economic activity across regional and remote areas.