PROGRESS towards the construction of the Mackay Ring Road is on track with the announcement of close to $35 million in the Budget in 2015-16. In addition to this, more than $70 million will be invested into road infrastructure in the next financial year.The Mackay Ring Road project, currently in the detailed design phase, will generate 600 direct jobs when work on the ground kicks off.We are steadily getting closer to the construction of our Mackay Ring Road, and right now AECOM is undertaking the detailed design work for Stage 1, which is an 11.3km two-lane rural highway bypass that will avoid 10 sets of traffic lights between Stockroute Rd and Bald Hill Road, and it will involve the construction of 14 new bridges.Another commitment of $34.8 million for planning and preserving the corridor and undertaking Stage 1 in last night’s Budget is the next step in its progress.This ring road will ease traffic flow and increase safety, and it can’t come soon enough.There is also $65 million allocated in 2015-16 for work on the Peak Downs Highway, and this will greatly improve safety on this major thoroughfare into the mining hinterland.Other money will be spent on road widening, overtaking lanes and safety works.The commitment for the region over the next four years, and this includes projects to the north of Mackay near Bowen and Ayr, is as follows:Investment Road and Rail Programme

• Mackay Ring Road – $448 million in total, with $34.8 million allocated in 2015-16
• Peak Downs Highway Safety Works - $11.1 million, with $30 million allocated in 2015-16
• Bruce Highway, Sandy Gully Bridge near Bowen - $46 million with $5 million allocated in 2015-16
• Bruce Highway, Yellow Gin Creek Bridge upgrade near Ayr - $36 million with $25 million allocated in 2015-16
• Bruce Highway, Road Widening near Ayr - $66.4 million with $5 million allocated in 2015-16

Other ongoing projects in 2015-16 include:

• Bruce Highway Safety Package – $320 million, with $20 million allocated in 2015-16
• Bruce Highway Overtaking Lanes – $110 million, with $20 million allocated in 2015-16
• Bruce Highway Road Widening between St Lawrence and Bowen – $9.6 million with $3 million allocated in 2015-16
• Burdekin Bridge upgrade - $25 million, with 2015-16 allocation to be confirmed
• Sarina to Cairns Black Spots – $105.4 million, with $19.7 million allocated in 2015-16
• Sarina to Cairns – Overtaking Lanes – $67.8 million with $4.1 million allocated in 2015-16

Commencing in 2015-16:Bridges Renewal ProgrammeFour bridges on Peak Downs Highway to commence in 2015-16 - $35,000,000Completing in 2015-16:Black Spot Programme

• Milton Street Shakespeare Street, Mackay - $220,000
• Old Clare Road near Ayr - $430,000

Roads to Recovery

• Mackay Regional Council - up to $2,829,426

Community Development Grants Programme

• Mackay Junior Soccer Grounds Relocation project - $1 million, including $400,000 in 2015-16.

Regional Development Australia Fund

• Mackay Civic Centre Public Realm Improvement - $8.825 million including $4.4 million in 2015-16.