Funding for bridges on notorious Peak Downs Highway

FEBRUARY 27, 2015:I HAVE joined with fellow National, Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, today to announce that we have secured $35 million to build four new bridges to make the notorious Peak Downs Highway safer.The money accounts for almost a third of Australia’s first round of funding under the Liberal-National Government’s new Bridges Renewal program, and it will be used to replace four wooden bridges between Mackay and Nebo with concrete structures.There are thousands of coal industry workers and service providers who commute to the Bowen Basin on this busy transport corridor, and providing a more reliable highway has been a priority.Michelle and I went into bat for funding to improve this highway – even though it is not a federal road - and we are delivering further on that promise.The fact that we have been able to secure by far the largest share of funding shows that our message is getting through and the Government is responding to the needs of Central and North Queensland.Replacing the four wooden bridges with concrete structures is a $70 million project in total with the remainder of the funds to be contributed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.