- The Crisafulli Government is delivering safer, more reliable Townsville roads with completion of major Stuart Drive upgrades.
- The upgrades deliver on commitment to fix congestion and improve safety for regional communities and freight after a decade of decline under Labor.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future by building the roads and infrastructure needed for a growing population.
The Crisafulli Government has delivered a major boost to Townsville's transport network, with two critical upgrades on the Townsville Connection Road open to traffic, with both delivered on time and on budget.
After years of delays and blowouts across Queensland throughout the former Labor Government's decade of decline, these upgrades are part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to deliver the roads and infrastructure needed for Queensland's future.
The completion of the Stuart Drive safety upgrades and the duplication of the Bowen Road Bridge marks a significant milestone for one of the city's busiest corridors, improving safety, easing congestion and supporting continued growth in Townsville's southern suburbs.
Delivered to minimise disruption and maximise efficiency, the upgrades have transformed a long-standing bottleneck into a safer, higher-capacity connection for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Stuart Drive has been widened from two lanes to four lanes between University Road and the Bowen Road Bridge, with key intersection upgrades improving traffic flow and safety.
The duplication of the Bowen Road Bridge has doubled river crossing capacity over the Ross River, separating inbound and outbound traffic and delivering a more reliable journey for road users.
Together, these works now support around 24,000 vehicles per day to reduce congestion, helping North Queenslanders get home to their families safer and sooner.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government which failed to plan for growth in regional and rural Queensland.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the project delivered a fresh start for Townsville.
"These projects are part of our plan to build the infrastructure Queenslanders need for a safer, more reliable road network," Minister Mickelberg said.
"Throughout Labor's decade of decline, the control of the corrupt CFMEU saw budgets and timelines blow out on projects across Queensland.
"We are delivering a fresh start for Queensland, delivering projects on time and on budget to help address the congestion and safety issues Labor failed to fix.
"By completing these projects at the same time, we've removed a long-standing bottleneck while we're delivering infrastructure critical for Townsville's future.
"Just like the $9bn investment in upgrading the Bruce Highway, this is another project to help locals get home safer and sooner."
Member for Mundingburra Janelle Poole said the upgrade to Stuart Drive reflects the Crisafulli Government's commitment to the community, following strong advocacy for safer, more efficient travel along this busy corridor.
"Stuart Drive is an essential link for schools, sports clubs, local businesses and families," Ms Poole said.
"These upgrades prove the Crisafulli Government is committed to delivering a fresh start for regional Queensland, by easing congestion and improving safety for the community, travelers and fright operators who rely on the route each day."
