Highway not up to scratch

I RECENTLY drove from Melbourne to Townsville. In my experience the Bruce Highway north of Marlborough was the worst in the country.

It’s also an area that contributes significantly higher economically per capita than the rest of Australia but has significant accidents and road fatalities.

North Queensland needs the same standard roads as SEQ drivers and then we may not need to take unnecessary life-threatening risks.

We must be careful on dangerous roads but give us similar roads to down south and NQ drivers will survive in greater numbers and NQ families won’t be going to as many funerals.

Overtaking lanes are an essential part of modern transport routes. With more inexperienced tourists, slower caravans and hasty semi-trailers we need simple, cost-effective solutions like they have south of Rockhampton, which include one overtaking lane every 5-10 kilometres.

Last year I wrote to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads Fitzroy division. I got this response: “I can advise that under the Bruce Highway Safety Package, Mackay Whitsunday District are currently in detailed design for construction of eight overtaking lanes between Bowen and Home Hill. These are expected to be constructed over the next four years.

“Northern District will also construct an additional overtaking opportunity on the Bruce Highway between Ayr and Townsville as part of the Mailman – Killymoon project, which will commence early next year.” Why do northerners need to wait up to four years to get the same facilities as below Rockhampton? COLIN DWYER,

Townsville.