A $100 million upgrade to Cleveland-Redland Bay Road would get people home safer and sooner, according LNP leader Deb Frecklington, who visited Thornlands this morning.
The opposition leader was joined by Redlands LNP candidate Henry Pike and Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson as she pledged to invest $40 million of additional money into the road and fast-track a further $60 million of investment that has been promised by Labor.
The commitment would fund the duplication of Cleveland-Redland Bay Road on the remaining two-lane stretches in Thornlands and from the Benfer Road junction south towards Boundary Street in Redland Bay.
Redlands MP Kim Richards hit back at Ms Frecklington saying the last time the LNP were in power they cut roads funding by more than $600 million and sacked more than 700 road builders.
"The Palaszczuk government is getting on with the job of delivering the Stage 1 $60 million duplication of Cleveland Redland Bay Road," she said
This is the second time in two weeks Ms Frecklington has visited the area as the LNP sets its sights firmly on the seat of Redlands.
"The LNP will fast-track $40m of additional investment in this vital road to create jobs and stimulate local economy," she said.
Ms Frecklington said her party had a plan to drag Queensland out of the recessioin and deliver a decade of secure jobs.
The LNP's stimulus road funding will come from its $1 billion South-East Queensland Congestion Program, which aims to create new jobs by delivering dozens of new road and rail projects across the region.
Mr Pike said locals were frustrated by Labor's failure to fund infrastructure in the electorate.
"The Redlands is a forgotten land as far as Labor is concerned.
"This is the worst road in the Redlands for congestion and its safety record is poor," he said.
Mr Robinson said the announcement was great news for residents.
"Residents are spending too long stuck in traffic on this route," he said.
He said the projects will be fast-tracked under a new streamlined procurement process that would speed up contracts and get shovels in the ground as soon as possible.
"Only Queensland construction and engineering firms will be first in line for the work," he said.
Local business owner Leanne Sullivan from Aussie Excavators said she would tender for the project.
"I am a local resident and business owner and I struggle every day with the safety and congestion on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road. We welcome the upgrade and we will welcome the work," she said.
State elections is less than 90 days away with the Redlands seat being hotly-contested between Mr Pike and Redlands MP Kim Richards.
Ms Richards said the Labor government was delivering a record $23 billion for transport and roads projects in Queensland, and since April had announced a further $1 billion in new and accelerated funding for road projects.
"We have a plan for Redlands roads and we're focused on creating jobs and supporting Queensland's economic recovery, while the LNP are only focused on fighting among themselves," she said.
