$1.4m upgrades for local roads

More than $1.4 million in upgrades has been announced for Southern Downs and Granite Belt roads. Picture: FILE

By Jess Baker

The federal government has committed $1.4 million to improving 16 intersections and roads across the Southern Downs and Granite Belt under its 2021-22 Black Spot Program.

Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said community input was critical in identifying key black spots in the electorate.

“Road crashes place major emotional and economic strains on all affected communities but particularly the families and friends of the victims,” Mr Littleproud said.

“I am pleased to see 16 high-priority projects on the Southern Downs will be delivered under the 2021-22 funding round.”

Under the latest funding round, $958,500 will be invested in 12 Black Spot projects across Warwick, Rosenthal Heights, Allora, Clintonvale, Deuchar, and Leslie Dam.

The federal government will contribute $115,000 to upgrading Palmerin Street and Alice Street in Warwick and $172,000 to reducing the speed limit along Guy Street to 40 kilometres per hour and installing seven raised pedestrian crossings at two locations along the road.

The three kilometre section of Washpool Road from Glenvale Road at Leslie Dam will also receive $170,000 to reduce the speed limit to 80 or 90 kilometres per hour, clear roadside vegetation and provide additional guide posts, centre line marking and reflective pavement markers.

Significant funding will also be invested in projects at the intersection of Acacia Avenue and Percy Street at Warwick, the intersection of Mardon Road and Inverleigh Road at Rosenthal Heights, and the intersection of Merivale Street and Hillside Road and Allora Clifton Road at Allora.

The intersection of Bisley Street and Baguley Street at Warwick, the intersection of Freestone Road and Lowe Road at Clintonvale, the intersection of Churchill Drive and Marshall Street at Warwick, and the intersection of Jackie Howe Drive and Churchill Drive and Coe Street at Warwick will also receive funding.

The intersection of Bracker Road and Tooth Street and Mardon Street at Warwick will receive $80,000 worth of improvements, and Yankee Gully Road between Pratten Hendon Road and Hendon Victoria Hill Road at Deuchar $132,500.

Three projects at Stanthorpe and one at Greenlands will receive $442,000 in funding under the latest round of the Black Spot Program.

Nundubbermere Road west of Graham Lane at Greenlands will receive the most significant funding in the Stanthorpe region at $277,000.

The project will see the existing floodway widened to dual lane through the installation of additional culverts and “suitable headwalls” as well as pavement sealing, linemarking, RRPMs and guide posts.

Also under the program, a 100 metre section of Matthew Street north of Railway Street at Stanthorpe will undergo a $135,000 upgrade, the intersection of Bridge Street and Day Street and Symes Street at Stanthorpe will undergo a $20,000 upgrade and the intersection of Wolfram Street and Granite Street at Stanthorpe will undergo a $10,000 upgrade.

A total $20.8 million will be invested in 67 Black Spot projects across Queensland under the latest round of the Black Spot Program.