LNP’s Dan Purdie spruiks funding for Sunshine Motorway upgrades
Debate surrounding the duplication of a busy stretch of the Sunshine Motorway has reignited following the death of a woman in a head-on collision, while candidates keep quiet on the project’s future.
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Debate surrounding the duplication of a busy stretch of the Sunshine Motorway has reignited following the death of a 48-year-old woman in a head-on collision.
A business case for the duplication of the Sunshine Motorway, between Coolum Yandina Rd and David Low Way, to widen the two-lane road to four lanes, was allocated $3m by the state government in early 2023.
The project was also set to include a new interchange at Yandina-Coolum Rd and a potential interchange at West Coolum Rd.
However, as it stands the future of the project remains uncertain with the preliminary evaluation ongoing.
LNP MP for Ninderry Dan Purdie said the motorway was “past its used by date” more than a decade ago, but stopped short of confirming whether the opposition would deliver the duplication if elected later this month.
“The Beattie and Bligh governments first acknowledged the Sunshine Motorway was past its used by date when it released plans to duplicate it in 2008, making the same commitment again in 2020,” Mr Purdie said.
“Last year we secured $3m for the business case, but Labor pushed that out another year in this year’s State Budget.”
Mr Purdie said the opposition would deliver new south-facing ramps at Mt Coolum as the “next step”.
“In the meantime, I’ve been working with the community and our school to deliver the crucial first steps in the process, with works currently underway on the $6m project to replace the roundabout at School Road with a signalled intersection,” Mr Purdie said.
“Last week, the LNP committed a further $40m for new south facing ramps at Mt Coolum, which is the next step in our ongoing plan to bust congestion and improve safety.
“Labor’s more than $20bn in major project blowouts means other important projects, such as further investments in the Sunshine Motorway, are delayed or cancelled.”
The calls for the motorway duplication from the community come after a horror head-on collision killed a Sunshine Coast woman on Monday afternoon.
“Maybe it is time for more lanes and a divided road,” one commenter wrote on Facebook in the aftermath of the crash.
“When is the state government ever going to fix these roads,” said another commenter.
“This is not a motorway it’s like a goat track.”
The 48-year-old woman driver of a Tesla succumbed to life-threatening injuries after she collided with a Toyota HiLux.
Queensland Police confirmed the cars were travelling in opposite directions.
Labor candidate for Ninderry, Jo Justo, did not respond to questions regarding the motorway duplication.
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Originally published as LNP’s Dan Purdie spruiks funding for Sunshine Motorway upgrades
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