Repairs nearly finished Highway to be fixed ahead of monsoon season
NORTHWESTERN and Gulf roads damaged in the 2019 monsoon are on track to be repaired before the next monsoon season.
The Flinders Highway at Hughenden, Richmond and Nelia, the Kennedy Developmental Rd, the Richmond-winton Rd and the Burke Developmental Rd have all been undergoing roadwork repairs as part of the 2019 Betterment Program.
Townsville-based LNP Queensland Senator Susan Mcdonald said the Commonwealth and Queensland government joint funding of repairs helped ensure roads could stay open to North and Far North Queensland regions.
“Following the disastrous flooding last year, Transport and Main Roads identified 10 flood-prone sites for improvement, with five completed and most of the remaining expected to be finished before the next wet season,” Senator Mcdonald said.
“Regional transport routes play an important role in our economic recovery from COVID-19 because they can keep tourists moving safely to the many terrific destinations we have to offer, miners can get minerals to ports, and graziers can get their cattle to markets.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said TMR had spent $10.78 million on betterment works to May 31 this year, with further works scheduled over coming months.
“Priority projects to stabilise the Flinders Highway with cement and make it more durable were completed from Hughenden to Richmond and at Nelia in December last year,” Mr Bailey said.
“Other works were recently completed on Richmond-winton Rd, which was used as a detour for heavy vehicles when flood damage temporarily closed the Flinders Highway in 2019.
“We recently completed concreting the slopes on Kennedy Developmental Rd (Hughenden–winton).
“Further works will continue on the southern section until late this year to strengthen the surface.
“Works on Burke Developmental Rd started in late April ... to seal a section and strengthen the surface.”