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Road projects set to deliver 21,500 jobs over four years in QLD

The Queensland Government estimates 21,500 Queenslanders will deliver its $24 billion pipeline of major road upgrades over the next four years.

Alongside this it has released another $66 million of fast tracked capital works, including village developments, a student precinct construction and an industrial park expansion.

These works come under the government’s economic recovery plan to rebuild the state’s economy.

In recognition of the many road projects underway across the state, government is reinforcing the need for drivers to take care across the state’s road networks as the number of lives lost on Queensland’s roads reaches 161 this year.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey today joined representatives from the Queensland Trucking Association, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Traffic Management Association of Australia alongside local MPs at the $749 million M1 upgrade in Logan urging drivers to keep an eye out for crews.

“With road safety week in full swing and school holidays just around the corner, I want to remind everyone when they get behind the wheel to drive so others survive,” Bailey said.

He said in response to COVID-19 hundreds of road upgrades are underway throughout Queensland

“But we can’t afford for the truck drivers, traffic controllers or construction workers building these projects to lose their lives because people aren’t driving safely.”

“Anecdotally we know that drivers passing this project and others across Queensland continue to recklessly speed, putting our road-workers at serious risk of death or serious injury,” he said.

Bailey went on to point out that despite a drop in traffic from COVID-19 the number of road fatalities is much greater than last year, which he said was disturbing.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto urged drivers to ensure they give heavy vehicles operating around work sites plenty of space.

“Up to four-out-of-five crashes involving heavy vehicles are caused by light vehicle drivers,” he said.

“When you see a heavy vehicle be aware that it has a large blind spot, allow extra distance for that truck to brake and allow extra space when turning at an intersection or roundabout.”

RACQ spokesperson Paul Turner said everyone working in high-speed work environments was at risk.

“We all have a responsibility when it comes to keeping road-workers safe. Please, if you see someone on the side of the road, slow down and move over,” Turner said.

“Whether it’s road-workers, emergency services, or RACQ Roadside Assistance crews, they’re all doing important work in a dangerous environment and we need to protect them by looking after them.”


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