Senator Nita Green and Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew announce additional $30m for Angus Smith Drive

Positioned near a busy hospital and the city’s sprawling university campus, a cash boost for “much-needed” traffic lights and the removal of a congested Townsville roundabout has been laid out by the Federal government.

Senator Nita Green with Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew at the Angus Smith Drive roundabout in Douglas. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Positioned near a busy hospital and the city’s sprawling university campus, a cash boost for “much-needed” traffic lights and the removal of a congested Townsville roundabout has been laid out by the Federal government.

At the busy Angus Smith Drive Roundabout in Douglas on Monday, Senator Nita Green was joined by the Federal Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew in announcing $30 million to match a commitment by the state government.

A key access route to Townsville University Hospital and James Cook University, Ms Andrew said it was a known spot in the city for heavy congestion, with the risk of that increasing due to the population and residential growth.

“We are not just talking about inconvenience, we are talking about hospital access, we’ve got the university … if ambulances can’t get through the traffic congestion then that means lives are at risk,” she said.

Senator Nita Green with Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew at the Angus Smith Drive roundabout in Douglas. Picture: Nikita McGuire

The project will see the removal of the roundabout and construction of traffic lights, which Ms Andrew said was a big concern when door-knocking residents in the area.

“There’s been a lot of conversations particularly around the risk and ambulance access to this area,” she said.

Ms Green said the Albanese Government was working with local and state governments to ensure the delivery of “the best infrastructure that Queenslanders need.”

Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Catherine King said improving the road would “unlock” potential growth for the hospital and university.

The initial $30 million from the Crisafulli state government was an election promise announced in September last year, with Mr Crisafulli saying at the time that the roundabout was at risk of “complete and utter gridlock by 2023” if changes were not made.

A business case is expected to being in mid 2025 and finalised in late 2026, with construction to begin in mid-2027 and be completed by mid-2029.

Originally published as Senator Nita Green and Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew announce additional $30m for Angus Smith Drive