Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is pleased the Federal Transport Darrin Chester has announced plans for a long-term commitment to up-grade the Princes Highway.
“Some may not realise,” Mr Ramsey said “but the Princes Highway runs from Sydney to Port Augusta, even though on this end we are more familiar with calling it either the Port Augusta Highway or simply Highway 1.
“The Minister has announced $5m to develop a Princes Highway Corridor Strategy and this links well to my calls for duplication of the highway north of Port Wakefield. Duplication offers to unlock significant economic potential, will save lives and shorten travel times”
“That combined with the importance of resolving the problems surrounding the Joy Baluch Bridge are issues the Government can focus on with a strong commitment to an infrastructure program such as Minister Chester has announced.
“In regard to the duplication of the bridge, we are still waiting for the State Government to provide the engineer’s report we asked for back in April.”
“It is essential we address this immediate problem regardless of what we do either to the bridge or the highway in the longer term.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has committed $5 million in federal funding to develop the 10 year program of works across three states that host the Prices Highway.
“This strategy will prioritise short, medium, and long term projects across the corridor to help the individual states and Australian Government identify future funding priorities,” Mr Chester said.
“We need to work across state borders to develop a corridor plan for the Princes Highway which is a critical link for regional visitor economies, agriculture, energy, the timber industry and local traffic.
“In Victoria, sections of the Princes Highway have been deemed to be the highest risk sections of road in the state.
“I’m keen to work with the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian state governments to pull together any existing planning work and develop a 10 year rolling program of works.”
Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744