Residents reap benefits of Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade

The Bruce Highway north of Rockhampton has undergone a massive facelift, making it faster for locals to get in and out of the city’s northern suburbs.

The $158 million Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade (RNAU) is now finished, with the stretch widened to four lanes between Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road and Ramsay Creek.

This major upgrade has been made possible by $126.4 million in funding from the Australian Government, while the Queensland Government provided $31.6 million.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Australian Government is delivering the infrastructure upgrades Queenslanders need and deserve.

“We are committed to investing in road upgrades to improve safety, deliver better road access for users and support growth and connectivity across Queensland,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“This is another example of the Australian Government’s record $110 billion infrastructure investment plan in action, helping to connect communities and improve safety, while creating jobs and supporting our economic recovery.”

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the RNAU paved the way for the upcoming Rockhampton Ring Road.

“Over the next four years the Queensland Government is delivering a record $27.5 billion roads and transport plan which is creating 24,000 jobs and driving the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19,” Mr Bailey said.

“This includes delivering $17.5 billion worth of project across regional Queensland.

“With the $158 million Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade now complete, we move onto the delivery of the biggest infrastructure project to ever be delivered in Central Queensland – the Rockhampton Ring Road.”

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the completion of both the Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade and the $36 million Highway Safety Package project at Terranova Drive would ensure a safe and efficient journey for all road users.

“The Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade has addressed the traffic demand on the Bruce Highway, with about 12,750 vehicles per day, including 1,460 heavy vehicles, travelling through Parkhurst,” Ms Landry said.

“Rockhampton is one of many communities from Brisbane to Cairns benefitting from our investment of over $10 billion in a safer, smoother and more reliable Bruce Highway.

“This investment also includes the Rockhampton Ring Road, which is the missing link to complete the overall Bruce Highway infrastructure upgrades to improve access in and around the city.”

Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd said the RNAU will improve the Bruce Highway network, improve safety and provide capacity and resilience on this stretch of road.

“This project is invaluable to support the economic development of our regional areas,” Mr O’Dowd said.

“The Rockhampton Northern Access Road will offer active transport options for residents in the area.”

Queensland Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the Rockhampton Ring Road project would give a big boost to many local businesses in the city.

“With construction kicking off in the new year, we’ll need local contractors and suppliers to deliver the works,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“We want Central Queensland to reap the economic rewards when the Palaszczuk Government delivers the Rockhampton Ring Road project.”

Queensland Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the Palaszczuk Government is delivering for Central Queensland by creating jobs.

“We saw 255 jobs supported by the RNAU and expect construction of the Rockhampton Ring Road will support an average of 783 direct jobs,” Ms Lauga said.

“The best way the Queensland Government can deliver these major infrastructure projects is through collaborating with industry and proactively highlighting opportunities for local businesses to participate.”

Ms Lauga said the Queensland Government was continuing to deliver major infrastructure upgrades that were identified in the Fitzroy River Floodplain and Road Planning Study (2011), supporting future growth in the Rockhampton region.

Since the study was completed, $524 million has been directly injected into upgrading Rockhampton’s road network. This includes:

  • The $50 million Yeppen North project, started in 2013, and $148 million Yeppen South project, started in 2015, with both completed. Yeppen South alone supported an average of 200 direct jobs over the life of the project.
  • Improving access to Rockhampton from the south and providing a high-level of flood immunity for the Bruce Highway through the southern Fitzroy River floodplain into Rockhampton.
  • Last month saw the completion of the $75 million Capricorn Highway – Rockhampton to Gracemere Duplication, which supported an average of 187 direct jobs over the life of the project. The duplication has improved the connection between these communities and increased the safety of this key urban connector road.
  • The $158 million Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade (RNAU) and $36 million Bruce Highway Safety Package project at Terranova Drive are in the final construction stages and when complete will reduce congestion and improve access in the northern suburbs of Rockhampton. 255 direct jobs are being supported over the life of the RNAU project and an average of 165 direct jobs by the Terranova Drive intersection project.

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