Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said while he welcomed the opening of the bidding process, new funding –as opposed to recycled announcements – would be needed ahead of this year’s federal election to deliver the road projects.

“New funding would allow work to progress on some of the 25 additional projects highlighted in our Bruce Highway Action Plan, delivered in October last year,” Emerson said.

“New funding for this 10-year blueprint is crucial to delivering the capacity, safety and flood mitigation projects to bring this 1700km lifeline up to a respectable standard.

“The Newman government has promised $1 billion in additional funding over the next 10 years and now we need both federal Labor and the federal Coalition to step up and meet their usual 80:20 commitment.

“I’ll be calling on the federal government to meet their traditional split for new funding, providing a total of $5 billion in additional funding for the Bruce Highway over the next decade.

“While I welcome the opening bid from the prime minister, it is only a start if we are to prevent hundreds of deaths on the Bruce Highway over the next decade.”

New and existing projects are listed on page 9 of the Bruce Highway Action Plan. The plan is available at target=_blank>www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/About%20us/Corporate%20information/Publications/BruceHighwayActionPlan.pdf.