WE WON’T LEAVE YOU SHORT
Minister sends bypass back to the drawing board
TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey has assured frustrated commuters the $152 million Smithfield Bypass project will be finetuned until it’s “right” after a 200m funding shortfall was exposed.
Mr Bailey has ordered a return to the drawing board for a refreshed design to be delivered after the duplication of the road through to Caravonica State School and upgrade of the Skyrail Drive intersection was scrapped due to a lack of cash.
“We’ll make sure we get it right,” Mr Bailey said.
BLUEPRINTS for the vital $152 million Smithfield Bypass project will be reworked to get the plan “right” when it comes to reducing early-morning frustrations along a crucial 200m stretch of road.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has marched department boffins back to the drawing board to come up with a refreshed design after the duplication of a key section of road was scrapped due to lack of cash.
Barron River MP Craig Crawford this week flagged concerns the State Government could not stump up enough money to fully complete the project, including duplication of the road through to Caravonica State School and the upgrade of the Skyrail Drive intersection.
Mr Bailey said the whole point of the bypass was to reduce peak-hour chaos and whittle down travel time for northern suburbs commuters.
“We’ll make sure we get it right,” he said.
“This is a massive project in its early stages and we’re still consulting the community about it ahead of major construction starting next year.
“Craig Crawford has raised some issues about access to Skyrail Drive in the current design, so I’ve asked my department to come back to me with some options for an upgrade there.”
With the project expected to run into late 2021, Mr Bailey said there was “plenty of scope” for his department to incorporate “what needs to be done” into the overall works package.
During a visit to Cairns yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addressed a statewide funding deal with the Federal Government to fasttrack much-needed road infrastructure.
“We know how important the Smithfield bypass is,” she said. “The State Government is putting in all $150 million for the Smithfield bypass … and $12 million (for Cairns Southern Access Stage Five) has been brought forward as part of that package.”’