Feds under pressure from Qld govt to fix Bruce Highway

15/06/2012 - Queensland wants the federal government to fund 80 per cent of all Bruce Highway upgrades and agree to a five-year construction timetable to end so-called "ad hoc" arrangements.

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The Bruce Highway crisis management group met in Brisbane for the first time on Thursday, tasked with fixing the notorious road, which almost spans the length of the state.

State Development Minister Jeff Seeney says the federal government has no prioritised, long-term plan.

"Which goes a long way to explaining why the Bruce Highway is in crisis today," Seeney told reporters.

"There seems to be a very much ad hoc, negotiated, whatever-is-the-latest-political-crisis approach to the Bruce Highway."

The group will have a report in six months that will outline a five-year work program it will want the federal government to agree on.

It wants the federal government to commit to funding 80 per cent of any upgrades, with the state chipping in 20 per cent.

Seeney says areas that are flood-prone, unsafe or need improved access will take precedence.

The group - made up of local, state and federal representatives as well as trucking and road safety organisations - was a Liberal National Party election promise.

The LNP has committed $1 billion in state funds for the Bruce Highway on the condition the federal government urgently brings forward expenditure to fix it within 10 years.

Source: AAP

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