One of Queenslands highest priority road infrastructure projects has been secured for the state, with the Federal and Queensland governments announcing they will deliver the vital Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TRSC).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss today called for the private sector to register interest in building the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project.
He was joined by Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, Federal Minister for Industry and Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane.
Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz was also in attendance to call for the Registration of Interest.
The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is a hot issue for my constituents in the Lockyer Valley who rely heavily on the current road to get their produce to Toowoomba and further west,
Since my election as Federal Member for Wright in 2010 I have been campaigning hard to see the Second Range Crossing come to fruition. Therefore this move to invite private sector interest is a welcome step forward said Mr Buchholz.
The registration process will move to a formal Expression of Interest stage over the next couple of months. A successful contractor will be named later this year, with construction expected to begin by mid-2015.
Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss stated the Coalition understands the importance of regional infrastructure and is committed to building the Toowoomba Bypass.
This is yet another example of the federal and Queensland governments working together to deliver the infrastructure projects which are desperately needed. It comes on the back of our almost $10 billion partnership to get the Bruce Highway and Gateway North project up to speed said Mr Truss.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jess Seeney said the TSRC would help drive Queenslands economic growth by creating jobs and providing a gateway to the states recourse-rich Surat Basin and the agricultural food bowls of the Darling Downs.
The TRSC provides the missing link between the Surat Basin, where an estimated $30 billion worth of mining and development projects are now planned or underway, to international gateways and the labour and services supply market in South-East Queensland.
Additionally, up to 30-40 minutes will be shaved off the total travel times across the range for heavy and super heavy commercial vehicles, with drivers able to avoid up to 16 sets of traffic lights said Mr Seeney.
A fly-over video link of the site, image library and fact sheets are available at www.qld.gov.au/tsrc