Politicians urged to prioritise road safety in FNQ
The State’s peak motoring body is calling on all political parties and candidates to green light vital road projects in the Cairns region to save lives and drive investment in the far north.
RACQ Head of Public Policy Susan Furze said road safety needed to be front of mind for present and future leaders in far north Queensland in the upcoming Federal Election.
“Last year, the Kennedy electorate had the highest road toll in the State with 33 deaths, while six people were killed on roads in the Leichhardt electorate,” Ms Furze said.
“Crashes are preventable and have devastating effects for the families of those who have died and their communities.
“Investment in road safety does make a difference and we’re calling for further commitment to key projects to generate jobs, save lives and drive productivity.”
RACQ’s priority projects in far north Queensland include:
- Fast-tracking the Cairns Western Arterial Road and Cairns Ring Road projects, including delivery of safety upgrades along the entire Captain Cook Highway
- Accelerating all Bruce Highway Upgrade Program projects by increasing annual funding by 50%, including additional maintenance activities
- Delivering a safety works package* along the Kennedy Highway, including bridge and flood immunity upgrades to provide a suitable inland alternative route to the Bruce Highway
- Completing all five stages of “Cairns Southern Access” upgrade
- Increasing investment in the Federal Road Safety Program and bolstering maintenance funding allocations to deliver safer, stronger and more resilient regional roads.
Additionally, RACQ is calling for increased investment in natural disaster resilience and mitigation measures.
Ms Furze said the next Federal Government must make the Bruce Highway a priority.
“A funding boost for the Bruce Highway is desperately needed to accelerate the delivery of vital upgrades,” Ms Furze said.
“We’re also calling for additional funding to modernise Queensland’s transport and energy systems by trialling emerging fuel, charging, energy storage and energy production technology including solar, hydrogen, community grids and micro-grids.”
RACQ is also calling on both sides of government to help expand the national electric vehicle fast-charging network, and progress public access to the EV fast charger network as identified in Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List.
To view RACQ’s election priorities click here.
*Safety works packages include lane and shoulder widening, safety barriers or removal of roadside hazards, intersection improvements and additional overtaking lanes/opportunities.
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