Works have started on the Palaszczuk Government's $5 million Flinders Highway and Woodstock-Giru Road intersection upgrade.
The Palaszczuk Government earlier this year fast-tracked works, with RoadTek crews now building an acceleration lane on the Flinders Highway north of the Woodstock-Giru Road intersection, allowing turning vehicles to safely accelerate and merge with highway traffic.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey joined representatives from DriveIT, Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper and Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill to turn the sod.
"The global economy has been hit hard by COVID-19, but Queensland's strong health response to-date means our state can kick-start the economy quickly and get on with the job of rolling out a $23 billion pipeline of road and transport upgrades," Mr Bailey said.
"Aaron Harper has been a huge advocate for this project and for the $1 billion in road and transport projects for North Queensland, which is supporting more than 1,000 jobs.
"We know there's a long road ahead when it comes to COVID-19, and that's why we're focussed on Queensland's plan for economic recovery – a laser-like focus on infrastructure, jobs, industry and business."
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said the intersection upgrade will support the establishment of DriveIT NQ's approved driver education and motorsport facility in the precinct.
"I was proud to help secure that funding which will help not only DriveIT but other manufacturers in the future at the Lansdown Industrial Precinct," he said.
"These are the works required to support access for current approved projects within the precinct, including Drive It NQ, and will deliver the required safety improvements.
"This will help unlock the area not only for DriveIT but potentially for other projects in the future."
Mr Harper said he has advocated for DriveIT in the past and will continue to do so.
"This project remains firmly in my mind and is an important one for driver education and for motorsport enthusiasts," he said.
"I will continue to help DriveIT progress their plans for their project in the future."
Mayor Jenny Hill said the intersection upgrade was another milestone in the development of the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.
"Council has committed to Lansdown being established as an environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate," Cr Hill said.
"This estate is really significant to the city and North Queensland with the potential for thousands of jobs to be created, which would be a huge boost to our economy and bring new skills to the community, particularly when the local economy is suffering because of the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic."
