Council
1 October, 2024
Millions for dodgy roads
Three of the state’s most ‘unroadworthy roads’ will be upgraded under a $30 million LNP commitment, if it wins power at the October 26 state election.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, and Member for Lockyer, Jim McDonald, announced $20 million for upgrades to the Brisbane Valley Highway (BVH) this week, while last week, Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell, promised $10m for repairs to D’Aguliar Highway intersections.
The election commitment comes after Moreton Bay and Somerset both recorded three of the RACQ’s 2024 Top 10 Unroadworthy Roads.
According to the RACQ report, Mount Mee Road (between Woodford and Dayboro) ranked as the third most unroadworthy road in Queensland, closely followed by the BVH in fourth, and the D’Aguilar Highway in eighth, particularly between Woodford and Kilcoy.
All three state-owned roads rose in the ranks from last year’s survey, with the BVH seeing the biggest leap, jumping from ninth to fourth place. Some of the issues named with all three roads include rough surfaces, narrow lanes, and lack of overtaking opportunities.
Mount Mee Road was also criticised for its tight curves, blind crests, and slippery/loose road surface, especially between Mount Mee and Dayboro.
Additionally, the BVH and D’Aguilar Highway were said to not be able to handle the high volume of traffic, including heavy vehicles and caravans.
The BVH funding will include safety upgrades, pavement treatments, and improvements to safe shoulder turning lanes and overtaking lanes.
Ms Frecklington, said the inclusion of the highways in the Top 10 list “comes as no surprise”, with the $20m upgrade delivering benefi ts to the Somerset community and beyond.
“The LNP has been listening to the feedback from the community, local government, and business owners, and recognises the need for this important upgrade,” she said.
“Our community use this road every day to access health services, get their kids to school and travel to work. The BVH is one of our major connecting routes, bringing produce and freight from inland areas to coastal centres.
“Sadly people continue to lose their lives on this dangerous road. Surely they deserve to be able to get to their destination safely.”
According to Ms Frecklington, traffic counts conducted on the BVH show a definite increase in road usage with a 15.9 per cent increase on the section just north of Esk and a 17.6 per cent increase at Toogoolawah since 2019.
Somerset Regional Council Mayor, Jason Wendt, said the election promise is welcomed, but emphasised Council is asking for at least $84 million over the next four years to properly fix the road, not “band-aid solutions”, calling the BVH and D’Aguilar Highway “death traps”.
“Two of our major transport corridors in the Somerset region are unfit and unsuitable for purpose,” he said.
“We look forward to further details from the LNP regarding the investment, including the total funding over time, project delivery and projected timeframes.
“At the same time, we welcome an announcement from the Labor Government regarding their funding commitment to improve the BVH, if re-elected.
“We have been accepting for far too long, hoping the State Government would finally invest and deliver both short-term and long-term solutions.
Meanwhile, our highways have dangerously deteriorated, and enough is enough.”
Cr Wendt said council had listed investment in the BVH as its number one advocacy item in the lead up to the State Government election this month.
LNP candidate and Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell, said the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has received over 750 requests from him regarding the D’Aguilar Highway and Mount Mee Road.
“I’ve sponsored several parliamentary petitions on both roads and done many a speech in Parliament,” he said.
“We have an abundance of tourist attractions that locals and visitors alike can enjoy, and the south of the Glass House electorate is perfectly positioned as a main thoroughfare to and from larger western communities.”
The LNP’s $10m commitment will go towards upgrades of multiple dangerous intersections along the D’Aguilar Highway, with a specific focus on intersections of Campbells Pocket Road, Mt Mee Road, Raaen Road and George Street.
“Identified works will be ordered in priority and staggered until the D’Aguilar Highway flows safely through Wamuran, D’Aguilar and Woodford,” Mr Powell said.
“We are also committing to undertake a detailed design study for upgrades to Mount Mee Road through Ocean View, to ensure we get the road widening, road surface rehabilitation and upgrades right – spending your taxpayer dollar wisely.
“The detailed design study will guarantee a long-term fix can be delivered, not the continuous band-aid, patch job fixes Mount Mee Road currently receives.”
