Construction of the new heavy vehicle bypass of Cloncurry is finally underway – a tribute to the persistence of the local community which has long championed the project and their elected representatives who secured the funding necessary to make it a reality.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese today joined Cloncurry Shire Council Mayor Andrew Daniels onsite for the ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of work on the $8.2 million project.
“After more than a year of detailed planning, community consultations and preconstruction activities, we have today pressed the ‘start’ button on a project which will make this historic North West Queensland town an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Mr Albanese.
“We recognise that the task of building the modern infrastructure regional communities need can be a task too big for any one level of government.  That’s why we agreed last year to partner with the Council on this project to get the job done.
“When it comes to infrastructure, Federal Labor means and does what it says.”
The new 4.4 kilometre heavy vehicle bypass has Federal Government funding for $8.2 million.  The bypass is being constructed to cater for the large mining trucks and road trains which will use the bypass, the project will also upgrade the intersections with the Flinders Highway.
“The bypass is no longer just an aspiration or a line on the map.  It will soon be a real road delivering real benefits including safer, quicker driving conditions and up to 350 fewer trucks a day rumbling through the town,” said Cr Daniels.
“The project will also widen Railway Street as well as install new intersections at Railway Street, the Flinders Highway and Sir Hudson Fysh Drive.”
“It will bring real benefit to our community and our Town.
_________________________