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Gillard commits to Qld highway upgrade

Gillard commits to upgrade of intersection of Bruce and Capricorn highways if re-elected

August 13, 2010

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has committed to upgrading the intersection of the Bruce and Capricorn highways her government is re-elected on August 21.

Money for the project will come from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, which will be established once the Mining Resources Rent Tax to begin in 2012.

The Government will pour $6 billion into the fund, and has committed to allocating more than $2 billion to Queensland.

Money will come from the tax revenue, and the Government says most of the funds will be used in resource rich states.

Gillard has already provided $500,000 to plan the scope and cost of the upgrade. The project is expected to cost $50 million. Gilalrd has committed to fund $40 million.

The project will also be subjected to an assessment by Infrastructure Australia, the body set up by the Federal Government to guide investment in nationally important infrastructure projects.

“This intersection is a notorious black spot and I’ve been busting my guts to make sure that this intersection gets the funding needed to fix it for good,” Labor’s candidate for the electorate of Flynn, Chris Trevor says.

“Federal Labor’s Regional Infrastructure Fund will give something back where it’s needed the most, and there is no doubt that safety and congestion issues need to be improved here.”

Labor’s Capricornia candidate Kirsten Livermore says traffic is currently forced to queue at roundabouts at the junction of the two highways.

“The traffic congestion and safety issues at this intersection are one of the most significant issues facing people living in this area,” she says.

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