$45 million for regional road safety upgrades

The Albanese Labor Government continues to invest in bridge and road safety upgrades across regional and rural Australia, with over $45 million flowing to 19 high-priority projects. 

From Clarence Valley in New South Wales, Gladstone in Queensland, through to Port Hedland in Western Australia, the Government will partner with local councils to deliver projects in fast-growing communities and in areas that house major production hubs.

Over $25 million will be shared by 14 projects under the Bridges Renewal Program (BRP), with over $20 million supporting five projects under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP).

The BRP supports upgrading old and worn timber bridges to modern structures that can take more weight, are better equipped for major weather events, and are safer for both vehicles and pedestrians.

The latest BRP projects include:

  • Over $2.7 million to replace Comobella Bridge over Mitchell’s Creek at Comobella outside of Dubbo with a concrete structure
  • More than $1.8 million towards the reconstruction and widening of Appila Spring Bridge at Appila in South Australia
  • Over $1.6 million to replace the culvert on Almurta Glen Forbes Road at Almurta in Victoria.

The HVSPP supports improvements to roads used in freight routes, including the installation of intersections, widening roads, sealing roads and installing safety barriers - to increase the productivity and safety of heavy vehicle operations.

The latest HVSPP projects include:

  • $5 million towards the upgrade of two existing causeways and one new causeway at three locations on Malbon-Selwyn Road at Cloncurry in Queensland 
  • $5 million to reconstruct and widen around 6 kilometres of Mount William Road at Yalla-Y-Poora in Victoria 
  • $5 million to upgrade Route 1 of the Wedgefield road network at Wedgefield in Western Australia, including widening and sealing approximately 580 metres of road, installing precast box culverts to mitigate flooding, and pavement upgrades.

The BRP and HVSPP will consolidate into the Safer Local Road and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) from 1 July 2024 – with an additional $50 million to be added to the new program.

For more information, visit: https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP:

“We know that our regional road networks are ageing at the same time as communities outside of our big cities are growing – which is why we’re partnering with local councils to get their high-priority road safety projects off the ground.

“Bridges are critical access points in and out of our communities, and freight routes are central to the efficient delivery of essential products and services, which is why this $45 million will go a long way to improving the safety and reliability of these regional road networks.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator the Hon Carol Brown:

“Without our truckies, Australia stops. That’s why we are investing in keeping them safe on our roads.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. We all must do our part to ensure every road user gets home safely.

“We want to make our busiest freight routes safer for truckies and everyone using our roads.

“I am pleased to see another five projects come to life under the HVSPP, which will increase safety and reliability for the trucking industry across Australia while bolstering access through local rural communities.”

BRIDGES RENEWAL PROGRAM PROJECTS: 

State

Proponent

Project Name

Project Summary

Australian Government Funding ($)

Total Project Cost ($)

NSW

Clarence Valley Council

Clarence Valley Council - Design and Replacement of Bluff Bridge, Lanitza

The Bluff Bridge Replacement project will involve building a new concrete bridge next to the existing one and raising the deck height by approximately eight metres. The project also includes demolishing the old structure and rehabilitating the site, plus realigning and constructing approaches to enhance the corner radius. The new bridge will comply with current standards, including SM1600 loading, and is anticipated to not limit future vehicle use on Orara Way. It will offer wider lanes, improved shoulders, and better visibility for drivers. 

$5,000,000

$15,972,609

NSW

Goulburn Mulwaree Council

Goulburn Mulwaree Council - Design and Upgrade of Causeways on Currawang Road, Currawang via Goulburn

The project will replace two narrow, flood-prone causeways with box culvert bridges on Currawang Road to address traffic safety concerns. Also, the project will reinforce and widen the entire 5.6-kilometre road pavement, which has experienced failures due to heavy vehicle traffic.

$4,024,739

$7,635,490

NSW

Dubbo Regional Council

Dubbo Regional Council – Design and Replacement of Comobella Bridge, Comobella  

The project involves replacing the causeway with a new reinforced concrete bridge over the Mitchell's Creek at the rural locality of Comobella.

$2,779,322

$3,705,763

NSW

Lake Macquarie City Council

Lake Macquarie City Council - Design and Replacement of Teralba Bridge on Racecourse Road, Teralba

The project will replace the existing Teralba – culvert bridge with a modern reinforced concrete bridge, which is in line with guidelines outlined in AS5100, ensuring a structurally sound and durable bridge. The bridge works will include improved road geometry and provision for a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.

$5,000,000

$7,614,000 

Vic

Northern Grampians Shire Council 

Northern Grampians Shire Council -Design and Upgrade of Greens Creek Road Bridge, Greens Creek

The project will upgrade the Greens Creek Road Bridge, including widening and strengthening it, installing new safety guardrails and increasing the trafficable width to approximately 7.5 metres to allow safe passage for two vehicles in each direction.

$400,000

$500,000

Vic

Northern Grampians Shire Council l

Northern Grampians Shire Council - Design and Upgrade of Mt Dryden Road Bridge, Lake Lonsdale

The project will upgrade Mt Dryden Road Bridge crossing the Mount William Creek in Lake Lonsdale. The project involves strengthening it to accommodate SM1600 heavy vehicle loading, widening and the replacement of the bridge barriers to increase road safety.

$400,000

$515,000

Vic

Bass Coast Shire Council

Bass Coast Shire Council - Bridge Replacement, Almurta Glen Forbes Road Culvert, Almurta 

The project will replace the existing dual cell major steel pipe culvert with a box culvert on Almurta Glen Forbes Road, Almurta.

$1,645,600

$2,057,000

Vic

Indigo Shire Council

Indigo Shire Council - Bridge Upgrade, Boorhaman East Road Bridge, Boorhaman

The project involves strengthening the U-slab bridge through the installation of mid-span relieving piles and a crosshead, concrete deck overlay, and renewing a flood relief culvert. It also includes upgrading road safety barriers, increasing the sealed road width on the bridge and approaches to accommodate two-way traffic, improving on the existing 3.6-metre seal width. 

$483,314

$604,143

Vic

Wangaratta Rural City Council

Wangaratta Rural City Council - Bridge Upgrade, Redcamps Bridge, Myrrhee 

The project will upgrade the Redcamps Bridge, on Boggy Creek Road, Myrrhee, over Boggy Creek, including strengthening the substructure, a full deck replacement, widening the bridge from 6.2 to 7.2 metres, installing guard railings and increasing the number of lanes to two.

$520,000

$650,000

Qld

Gladstone Regional Council 

Gladstone Regional Council - Design and Upgrade Concrete Culvert on Palm Drive, West Gladstone

The project involves repairs and strengthening of the 3.2-metre-long concrete culvert on Palm Drive. The project will rectify all defects, enhance strength, increase load capacity and extend the structure’s life expectancy.

$931,200

$1,164,000

SA

District Council of Mount Remarkable

District Council of Mount Remarkable - Design, Reconstruction and Widening of Appila Spring Bridge, Appila

The project involves the design and reconstruction of the Appila Spring Bridge in Appila, which will include widening the bridge and replacing the barriers.

$1,867,291

$2,334,114

SA

District Council of Mount Remarkable

District Council of Mount Remarkable - Design and Reconstruction of Port Germein Road Bridge, Port Germein

The project involves the design and reconstruction of Port Germein Road Bridge. It consists of strengthening the existing bridge elements, including steel beams, while maintaining the current superstructure and substructure.

$1,488,646

$1,860,808

WA

Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale

Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale - Bridge Replacement, Oakford Bridge 187, Oakford.

The project will replace existing Oakford Bridge 187, which has cracked precast beam segments, with box culverts, widened width and enhanced shoulders in accordance with AS5100 (Bridge code). 

$734,275

$1,468,550

Tas

Central Highlands Council

Central Highlands Council - Bridge Replacement, Green Valley Bridge, Hollow Tree

The project will replace the existing timber bridge with a raised single-lane concrete bridge, including full-depth piled abutments, safety barriers, and approach terminals. The new bridge will be approximately 32 metres in length, consisting of two 16-metre spans with a clear width between barriers of 4.5 metres.

$324,791

$414,791

 HEAVY VEHICLE SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAM PROJECTS:

State 

Proponent 

Project Name

Project Summary

Australian Government Funding ($)

Total Project Cost ($) 

Vic

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Northern Grampians Shire Council - Upgrade of Minyip-Banyena Road, Banyena  

The project will rehabilitate and widen sections of Minyip-Banyena Road, a strategic freight route in the Wimmera Southern Mallee region. The road will be widened to a consistent 6-2 width to enhance safety and efficiency for freight movements. Two intersections will be upgraded to accommodate Heavy Vehicle access, improving connectivity for the agriculture sector. Additionally, approximately 1.9 kilometres of the road will be widened and approximately 2.7 kilometres of the road which is in poor condition will undergo full rehabilitation/reconstruction. In total, the project will upgrade 4-6 kilometres of the road network.

$664,000

$996,000

Vic

Ararat Rural City Council

Ararat Rural City Council – Design, Reconstruction and Widening at Mount William Road, Yalla-Y-Poora

This project will upgrade approximately 6 kilometres of Mount William Road, which is currently in bad shape. The road will be widened to a minimum of 8 metres. Works involve excavating and removing the existing pavement, adding new road base layers, drainage improvements, sealing, line marking, installing safety barriers, and putting up relevant signage.

$5,000,000

$6,250,000

Qld

Cloncurry Shire Council

Cloncurry Shire Council - Design and Upgrade of Malbon-Selwyn Road, Cloncurry

The project will be undertaken at three locations on Malbon-Selwyn Road, involving the replacement of two existing causeways and the construction of a new causeway. Additionally, the project will encompass the causeway approaches, road furniture and associated signage.

$5,000,000

$6,710,400

WA

Town of Port Hedland

Town of Port Hedland - Upgrade of Wedgefield Route 1, Schillaman Street/Peawah Street Intersection, Wedgefield

The project involves the upgrade of the Wedgefield Route 1 - Schillaman Street/Peawah Street Intersection, including widening and sealing approximately 580 metres of road, installing precast box culverts to mitigate flooding, and upgrading the pavement width and depth to meet specifications. Intersections will be widened to accommodate turning movements, and the overall length of road will be improved to provide at least 11-metre carriageway for traffic. 

$5,000,000

$6,303,512

WA

Town of Port Hedland

Town of Port Hedland - Upgrade of Wedgefield Route 1, Moorambine/Peawah Intersection, Wedgefield

The project will upgrade Wedgefield Route 1 - Moorambine St/Peawah St Intersection road geometry to comply with Main Roads Western Australia’s Restricted Access Vehicle standards, fix pavement issues, and resolve drainage problems in the precinct. It includes widening and sealing approximately 580-metres of road and installation of precast culverts at specific points to prevent flooding.

$5,000,000

$6,985,307