Statistics reveal Warrego's record of road tragedy

THE Warrego Highway's reputation as a danger to motorists has been backed by crash statistics.

The Warrego was one of the worst stretches of road in the Australian Road Assessment Program report, with 39% of the highway rated only one or two stars.

THE Warrego Hwy's reputation as a danger to motorists has been backed by crash statistics.

Statistics released by the Department of Transport and Main Roads show that last year two people were killed and 42 taken to hospital.

Last week the Queensland Times revealed the improved safety record of the Ipswich Motorway since its state-of-the-art upgrade last year when just 16 people were hospitalised.

The Warrego was one of the worst stretches of road in the Australian Road Assessment Program report, with 39% of the highway rated only one or two stars.

Ipswich West MP Sean Choat said the statistics backed his calls for an overhaul of the highway. "I'm horrified as that could be any number of people I know," he said.

He said the Warrego Hwy was the most important road to his constituents.

"The Warrego stretches the breadth of my electorate and there is barely a section of the community that doesn't use it regularly," he said. "The record of maintenance and upgrading of this federally funded road over the past six years is nothing short of a disgrace."

Blair MP Shayne Neumann said Labor government had spent more than $69 million upgrading the Warrego Hwy.

"They voted against funding for infrastructure in Queensland under the Nation Building Funding," he said.

Mr Choat said he wanted an upgrade of the Minden crossroads and at the Haigslea-Amberley road intersection.

"At present we are playing catch-up. I am grateful for the works that are being done and the investment; however, these works should have been undertaken years ago," he said.

"The Blacksoil interchange should have been funded and commenced in 2010 when it was promised, not in 2012.

"My people are sick and tired of it."

The accident toll

• The Warrego Hwy had two fatal traffic accidents last year.
• The highway recorded 29 accidents which required an occupant to be hospitalised.
• This year two people have been hospitalised.