[singlepic id=88 w=320 h=240 float=left] Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt and Mayor of Cairns Val Schier met with Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace this week to discuss the Wrights Creek Bridge, south of Edmonton.
Mr Pitt said widening the bridge was a top priority for the region and he would continue to work with Minister Wallace and Mayor Schier to lobby the Federal Government for funding to fast-track the project.
“The Minister has assured us that this project remains one of his top Bruce Highway priorities,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Bruce Highway is a national highway and a Federal Government responsibility, but Mayor Schier and I will continue to lead the charge to all levels of government to fast-track this project.
“Since being elected I’ve worked tirelessly towards the upgrade of this bridge – I’m not going to stop now.”
Mr Pitt said the Bligh Government was planning for the future of the region with the Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy.
“The recently released Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy sets out a detailed vision to upgrade the state’s transport backbone with ten projects on the Bruce Highway for Far North Queensland over the next 20 years,” he said.
“The project to widen the existing bridge over Wrights Creek to provide wider traffic lanes and approaches, with provision for cyclists, is included in the strategy – it’s scheduled to occur in the next five to ten years.
“But it is absolutely imperative this project is looked at earlier than the five to ten year timeframe outlined in the strategy.
“Every Far North Queenslander knows this bridge is a problem – it needs to be fixed.
“We are doing everything we can to urge the Federal Government to fund this critical piece of infrastructure sooner rather than later.”
Cr Schier said safety was the primary motive for the joint approach to widening Wright’s Creek Bridge.
“This section of the Bruce Highway is particularly dangerous and safety is our number one priority,” Cr Schier said.
“I thank the Member for Mulgrave and Minister Wallace for their support on this important issue and hope the Federal Government will recognise the urgency of this project.
“Cairns’ southern corridor is under increasing pressure to cope with growing traffic demands. We must ensure safety is at the forefront as the Federal Government schedules its improvements to the Bruce Highway.”
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