Queensland Inland Freight Route is a proposal to upgrade the existing highways from Charters Towers to Mungindi in Queensland, Australia.[2] It would be a quality two-lane alternative freight route to the Bruce Highway.
Queensland Inland Freight Route | |
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General information | |
Type | Highway (Proposed) |
Length | 1,181 km (734 mi)[1] |
Route number(s) |
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Major junctions | |
North end | Flinders Highway Broughton |
South end | Queensland / NSW border Mungindi |
Location(s) | |
Major settlements | Emerald, Springsure, Rolleston, Roma, St George |
Highway system | |
The estimated total cost in 2020 was $1.0 billion. The project was announced in October 2020 with an initial funding of $400 million from the Federal Government and $200 million from the Queensland Government. In the 2021 Budget the Queensland Government indicated that half of its funding had been allocated to a future priorities funding commitment. The project is at the detailed planning stage. Infrastructure Australia has set the project status as long-term (10 to 20 years).[2]
Works to be undertaken would include pavement straightening, road widening, new alignments, overtaking lanes and new or upgraded bridges.[2]
The route would follow the Gregory Highway from Charters Towers to Springsure, the Dawson Highway to Rolleston, and the Carnarvon Highway to Mungindi, a distance of almost 1,200 kilometres (750 mi).[2] The section from Charters Towers to St George is part of the Great Inland Way, a State Strategic Touring Route.[3]