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Category: Industry / Road Transport / Federal Elections / Government and Politics

Coalition pledges $50m for Barton Highway upgrades

Sunday, 5 Jun 2016 16:15:18 | Elise Fantin

Julie Bishop, Peter Hendy, Pru Goward and Rowena Abbey were in Murrumbateman for the announcement. (ABC News: Elise Fantin)

The Federal Government has pledged $50 million to upgrade the Barton Highway if it is re-elected, a promise that has been welcomed by the region's local mayor.

Key points:

  • Barton Highway a key Canberra connector, Julie Bishop says
  • Allocation of $45m for overtaking lanes in high traffic areas along sections of the highway
  • Labor is yet to commit some funding but said it would have more to say

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop made the announcement in Murrumbateman on Sunday afternoon, saying the work would improve the road's safety and efficiency.

"The Barton Highway is a key economic and freight corridor for this part of the world but it's also a key Canberra connector," Ms Bishop said.

In 2007, the Howard Government committed around $260 million to duplicate the highway — but lost the election.

"We fast forward to 2016 and, of course, the financial accounts that we inherited are vastly different to those inherited by Labor in 2007," Ms Bishop said.

"This is a way of showing our commitment to the duplication work part of the Barton Highway duplication plan.

"We need to get on with this immediate work of the $50 million dollars of improvements and upgrades."

Full duplication 'will be many years off'

The money includes $45 million for overtaking lanes in high traffic areas along central and southern sections of the highway.

Safety upgrades have been allocated $3.25 million, which includes pavements and road signalling systems to alert drivers to changed traffic conditions.

And a budget of $1.75 million has been set for work with the New South Wales Government, including design works and scheduling of other major projects to work towards the overall duplication of the Barton Highway.

"The experts will then be able to provide with that a timeline and the kinds of projects that will be needed to ensure the duplication project continues to progress," Ms Bishop said.

Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy said a full duplication was still years away.

"I think [it] will be many years off but this package is one, after the election, we'll get onto straight away," he said.

NSW MP and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said the road had a "shameful death rate and accident rate".

"We will absolutely play our part in the design work and the scheduling work and of course the redevelopment of the road and the duplication," Ms Goward said.

Commitment a positive step forward

Yass Valley Council mayor Rowena Abbey said the commitment was a positive step forward.

"It's been something that we have all been very passionate as a community about," she said.

"I think it's lovely to hear that they've actually heard our request and our pleas for assistance."

Last week, the Barton Highway Community Action group called on both sides of politics to commit to funding the road's duplication.

Labor is yet to commit some funding but said it would have more to say.

"This seems to be an announcement which provides overtaking lanes rather than duplication," shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said.

"I know Mike Kelly, the Labor candidate and former member [for Eden-Monaro] has been a strong champion of duplication. Labor will have more to say in this space."

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