- Crisafulli Government has announced a major investment to accelerate a Northern Beaches traffic fix.
- $10 million for planning works for notorious Woolcock Street and North Shore Boulevard intersection.
- Action delivered after the former Labor Government failed to progress project.
- Planning works will look at road realignment, additional turning lane capacity, and traffic signal optimisation to increase traffic flow and put downward pressure on congestion.
The Crisafulli Government is accelerating planning for a fix to the notorious Woolcock Street - North Shore Boulevard intersection, after inaction under Labor.
$10 million will be invested into detailed planning for potential road realignment, additional turning lanes, and traffic signal optimisation to get these busy roads flowing again.
The Crisafulli Government is already acting to deliver other important upgrades in this traffic chokepoint to help relieve congestion, including:
- North Townsville Road (Boundary Street), Charters Towers Road to Tenth Avenue
- North Townsville Road (Woolcock Street) and Dalrymple Road intersection
- North Townsville Road (Woolcock Street), Weston Street to Pilkington Street.
The former Labor Government abandoned funding to progress the project and forced thousands of commuters to continue to travel at snail's pace through Townsville's northern suburbs without a solution in sight.
Treasurer David Janetzki said the Crisafulli Government was delivering to relieve congestion in the Northern Beaches and planning for Townsville's future.
"We're accelerating planning to relieve one of the region's most frustrating traffic choke points which is the result of a decade of the former Government failing to act," Treasurer Janetzki said.
"Unfortunately the former Labor Government failed to deliver infrastructure to keep pace with the growing population in the Northern Beaches and now this community is paying the price of that sitting in congestion in every day.
"This planning is the start of a fix needed, we're taking action now with the planning required for the upgrade needed.
"Planning work, undertaken by Department of Transport and Main Roads, will look at the realigning of Shaw Road, additional turning lane capacity and traffic signalling optimisation to improve through traffic and reduce the severe congestion.
"We're progressing this project so we can boost connectivity, help ease traffic congestion and improve road safety in North Queensland."
