July 23, 2012
Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss and Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd are among a group of Federal and State Liberal and National MPs who have undertaken a five-day road trip along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns.
In all, seven Federal and six State MPs participated in various parts of the trip.
Mr Truss said the journey had provided an excellent opportunity to make comparative assessments of road reconstruction priorities and to discuss local priorities with those who use the Highway most.
“While Members of Parliament who represent the Bruce Highway know it well and drive it often, this was a good opportunity to consider the priorities as a group,” Mr Truss said.
The “Fix the Bruce” convoy spoke with local community leaders, Councils, tourism groups, police, paramedics, engineers, construction gangs, grey nomads, truckies and fellow motorists.
“Our convoy inspected many of the 33 sites where flooding regularly blocks the road, as well as many of the notorious accident spots which have helped give the Bruce Highway the ignominy of counting for one in six of the road deaths on the entire national highway system,” Mr Truss said.
Mr Truss said a lot of work had been undertaken over recent decades to upgrade the Bruce and some further projects are currently under way. Additionally, patching and repair work is being undertaken to restore the Bruce Highway following recent flooding.
“It is clear that much more work needs to be done. A Newman LNP Government commitment to provide $1 billion extra for the Bruce Highway over the next 10 years is a welcome initiative and reflects an encouraging change of attitude from the Queensland Government towards the upgrading of the Bruce,” he said.
“An incoming Federal Coalition Government will also be committed to providing increased funding to deliver a Bruce Highway that meets national highway standards.”