If the results of the last traffic light changes in Mount Isa are anything to go by, get set for more highway delays driving through town as the work now continues east from Camooweal St.
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An $8.3 million upgrade of Mount Isa intersections starts this month and will continue for the rest of the year.
Nine intersections on the Barkly Highway, from Camooweal St to Abel Smith Pde will receive safety upgrades under the jointly funded Northern Australia Roads Program.
The work follows the $2.5m upgrade to the Miles and West St junctions that some locals have complained have slowed traffic through town.
However Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said these were high priority road upgrades to support economic development.
“The Barkly Highway is a crucial economic route for not only Queensland but Australia, transporting significant resources from the mining, agricultural and logistics industries in North West Queensland to the export ports, domestic markets and freight routes along the Queensland coast,” Mr McCormack said.
“The upgrades will enable safer interactions for local traffic, and also improve urban amenity and connectivity.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the urban section of the Barkly Highway had a concerning crash history at the intersections to be upgraded.
“This project will improve safety for all road users – including heavy vehicles, general traffic, tourist vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Bailey said.
“These upgrades will make a substantial improvement to the Mount Isa road network and are an important part of our plans to improve 20 Mount Isa intersections by 2020.”
BMD Constructions Pty Ltd has been awarded the construction contract.
Works are expected to be completed in December, weather permitting.
The upgrades are 80% funded by the federal government and 20% by the Queensland government.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
