Getting from dinosaur to dinosaur will be easier after a $24 million upgrade is completed to widen and seal more than 30km of the Richmond-Winton Road.
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The upgrade will also and replace key structures, including culverts, and improve road safety and travel times on the key regional connector funded in an 80-20 partnership between the federal and state governments.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the upgrade is being delivered across four projects.
"The $2.7 million replacement of a culvert to improve flood resilience kicked off in September 2020 and was completed in December 2020," Mr Littleproud said.
"The additional three projects focus on sealing and widening various gravel sections, while construction on a $3.3 million project to seal more than four kilometres started in November 2020.
"In March this year, work started on a $5.39 million project to seal another 6.7 kilometres with further works now kicking off on a $13 million project to seal 20 kilometres - meaning motorists will see local crews delivering sealing works until mid-2022."
The $2.7 million Queensland Government project replaced two culverts about 27 kilometres and 47 kilometres south of Richmond.
Queensland Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders said the Richmond-Winton Road connected western Queensland with major freight routes including the Landsborough and Flinders Highway.
"By the time this work finished in the middle of next year, about 103 kilometres of the 145 kilometre road will be fully sealed," Mr Saunders said.
Richmond Shire Council Mayor John Wharton said the work had come at a time when it was needed most.
"Continuity of work for our road crew has never been more critical given the current climate, and this injection of funding has certainly come at the right time," Cr Wharton said.
"One of the projects alone is supporting 21 direct jobs over its life at a time when they are needed most. This gives our people confidence while providing a better road network for everyone in the community and all those who travel along it."
Winton Shire Council Mayor Gavin Baskett said its work crews were also benefiting from the funding boost with the upgrade having widespread impacts.
"The funding is certainly being put to good use as the sealing of this road is important to our local communities, businesses, and surrounding industries who rely on a reliable transport network to not only survive but thrive," Cr Baskett said.
"The Richmond-Winton Road is key to carting livestock and getting mining product moving, as well as helping grow the drive tourism industry in Outback Queensland."
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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.
