Funding support enhances safety for bike riders
Published on 08 July 2016
FUNDING support from the Queensland Government is helping Rockhampton Regional Council push ahead with three new construction projects to enhance the safety of bike riders.
The Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga today welcomed the funding.
The North Rockhampton projects, costing $892,000, will be funded equal share between the Palaszczuk Government and the Rockhampton Regional Council and will create 1500m of bike paths in Kerrigan Street, Norman Road and Moores Creek Road.
“The State Government and council have funded to the tune of $568,000 for the design and construction of an underpass across Kerrigan Street near Moores Creek to allow cyclists to bypass the busy Kerrigan Street / Moores Creek Road / Feez Street roundabout,” said Mrs Lauga.
“This will connect the exiting shared paths along Moores Creek Road with an underpass on the Kerrigan Street leg.
“Project works will include 120 metres of 2.5m wide shared path connections, line marking and signage.
“This is a significant and valuable move by both levels of government to enhance the safety of bike riders, including the many school students who will use this path.”
Mrs Lauga said $146,000 will be spent on the design and construction of an 800m length and 1.5m wide on-road cycle lanes along Norman Road between Yeppoon Road and Moores Creek Road.
The third project will cost $178,000 for design and construction of the missing sections of on-road cycle lanes along Moores Creek Road between Norman Road and Yaamba Road, as well as provide green paint treatment at side streets and intersections.
She said the project involves 570m of pathway, and will also design and construct a 2.5m wide shared path around the Kerrigan Street / Moores Creek Road / Feez Street roundabout to provide cyclists an off-road option at this conflict point
Rockhampton Regional Council Acting Mayor Cr Cherie Rutherford said Council was grateful to have received matching funding from the Palaszczuk Government.
“With both Council and the State Government contributing over $400,000 each to these projects, we are able to see each rolled out and available to the community in a short amount of time,” Cr Rutherford said.
“We sincerely thank Mrs Lauga and the State Government for their support of these projects.”
Chair of Council’s Infrastructure Committee, Cr Tony Williams said the projects matched perfectly with Council’s vision to enhance the overall cycling experience in Rockhampton.
“There are currently a number of works underway to improve and link a number of the city’s cycling paths,” Cr Williams said.
“The works that are now able to take place along Norman Road, Kerrigan Street, Moores Creek Road will continue to see major benefits for our growing cycling network.”