LNP pledge $50 million for new and upgraded rest stops
Its ambitious $33 billion upgrade of the entire Bruce Highway would save countless lives, but the LNP has another multimillion-dollar road safety initiative to roll out.
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New rest stops would be built across Queensland under a multimillion-dollar LNP plan to drive down fatigue-related crashes.
The Courier-Mail can reveal an LNP government would spend $50 million on new and upgraded driver reviver rest areas in a move it says would support 150 jobs, improve road safety and boost drive tourism.
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The bulk of the promised rest sites are expected be along the Bruce Highway, but others would be on other major routes.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said she would make the driver reviver commitment a “priority” if she was elected premier next month.
“I’m determined to save more lives on our roads because too many families are being torn apart by losing loved ones in crashes,” she said.
“We must invest in the infrastructure, not just talk about road safety. If Queensland is ‘good to go’, let’s make it safe to go.”
The LNP has pledged to conduct a statewide audit of rest stops to determine the best locations for new sites and would work with councils to identify new sites.
The Opposition says the commitment would be funded through the camera detection office program.
The commitment comes after 185 deaths were recorded on Queensland roads as of September 20 – an increase of 19 per cent compared to the same time in 2019, when the state recorded its lowest road toll on record.
Ms Frecklington yesterday spruiked the LNP’s 15-year, $33 billion plan to upgrade the Bruce Highway to four lanes between Cairns and Curra.
It includes $50 million for a blueprint for the 1677km route, as well as $6.6 billion in state funds over 15 years – but the rest of the money would have to come from the federal government in an 80/20 funding split.
Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said 61 projects along the Bruce Highway were already fully funded, including 39 under way across the state.
He slammed the LNP’s Bruce Highway commitment as an “unfunded Deb Frecklington fantasy”, pointing to the need for funds from the federal government.
“All she’s got is a $50 million study for consultants,” Mr Bailey said.
“The lack of federal government funding in this announcement… shows that she’s got nothing for Bruce Highway motorists whatsoever.”