Queensland Budget delivers $6.3 billion for transport in 2020-21

The Queensland Budget for 2020-21, released on the 1st of December invested $6.3 billion in transport infrastructure projects.

Cross River Rail will receive $1.5 billion to continue construction works and there will also be significant funding for major upgrades to the M1 and Bruce Highway.

In 2020-21 eight projects will be undertaken on the Bruce Highway, highlights of this funding include $1.1 billion for the Rockhampton Ring Road, $1 billion for the Cooroy to Curra Section D construction and $932.2 million for widening works between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A will get $50.4 million in 2020-21 of the total $709.9 million in joint funding and there will be $38.9 million spent on the North Coast Rail Line works, which has been given $550.8 million total funding.

Over the next four years, the Queensland Government highlighted the state is expected to spend a total of $26.9 billion on roads and transport, to support 23,600 jobs.

Funding builds on investment in major projects such as the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Bypass, the $497 Mackay Ring Road. The next four years should see the completion of the $1 billion Gympie Bypass, $480 million Bruce Highway upgrade between Edmonton and Gordonvale and close to $2 billion in M1 upgrades.

As part of the Cross River Rail project, the Queensland Government has also allocated $1 billion towards a rail manufacturing pipeline, to ensure the route’s trains are built by Queenslanders in Maryborough.

Queensland’s Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) has been allocated $280 million over four years Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS), which is hoped to support jobs and maintain the state’s transport network. $1.18 billion has also been allocated to road safety programs to reduce trauma and save lives.