The $24 million upgrade of Mount Lindesay Road is forging ahead, deputy prime minister and member for New England Barnaby Joyce said, following a recent meeting with member for Lismore Thomas George, Tenterfield Shire Council and other stakeholders.
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Mr Joyce said $24 million is being provided by the federal and state governments to realign, construct and renew the final section of the 42 kilometre Mt Lindesay Road upgrade between Legume and Woodenbong, a project he had been championing since elected as the Member for New England.
“Before the last Federal Election the Federal Coalition Government and the NSW Government announced they would put $12 million each towards the project and I am ensuring that this important road upgrade will go ahead as soon as possible,” Mr Joyce said.
“Recently I met with Lismore MP Thomas George, Tenterfield Shire Council and other affected parties regarding the project to assure them that progress is being made and to discuss a number of options for the project.
“The road is narrow, windy and undulating with poor pavement condition and everyone agrees it is in need of an upgrade to improve safety for motorists using the road.”
The Federal Government had already contributed $350,000 under Round 1 of the Bridges Renewal Programme (matched by funding from the NSW Government and Tenterfield Shire Council) for the replacement of the Bookookoorara Bridge along Mount Lindesay Road, located west of Legume.
Mr Joyce said the road is a vital link for the increasing number of local traffic, industry and tourists who use this road as the connector from South East QLD down to the Northern Rivers.
Additional safety upgrades will commence soon and will include road deviation at Koreelah Creek, including road widening and bridge construction, road realignment, widening, construction and sealing at various sections and road rehabilitation including drainage improvements.
Once the road is upgraded, the route will be available for use by B-Doubles, making the route more attractive for the freight task. Construction is expected to commence in 2017/18, with the realignment and construction of 2.4 km section of road at Dalman North. Construction of the final sections is expected to be completed in 2019/20.
