The QLD TWU Welcomes Labor's SERIOUS Roading Funding Package for Queensland

Labor's Martin Ferguson will announce a $2.55 billion plan to combat road gridlock in Southeast Queensland today. (The Courier Mail Newspaper, 17/10/07)

$500 million will be spent on Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's proposed Northern Link tunnel between Toowong and Kelvin Grove, $1.1 billion will go towards improving the Ipswich Motorway and $455 million will be spent on  the Pacific Motorway.

TWU Branch Secretary Hughie Williams says, The Ipswich Motorway desperately needs to be improved to reduce the traffic accidents and fatalities.

"It's a well known fact that many victims have lost their lives on the Ipswich Motorway, due to the lack of wide lanes."

Mr Williams says, Labor's announcement comes following the Howard Government's plans to spend $2.3 billion on the Goodna Bypass.

The bypass, a nine kilometre road requiring four bridges across the Brisbane River has been opposed by State Liberal Leader Bruce Flegg, The State Labor Government and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

All three parties say the Howard Government doesn't even know if the Goodna Bypass is the best solution to alleviate traffic in Brisbane's South West as they didn't even review an Ipswich Motorway upgrade.

TWU Secretary Hughie Williams says, "You can tell when Mr Howard's hard at work on his election campaign, he announces billions of dollars for Queensland roads without researching all the upgrade options."