By JONATHON HOWARD
COMMUTERS and residents using the busy Eumundi-Noosa Road can expect 12 weeks of delays from February next year due to road upgrades.
The road upgrade is estimated to cost $2.5 million and will complete the one kilometre section from Grays to Justin roads.
LNP state member for Noosa Glen Elmes unveiled the plans last Thursday to complete the upgrade and reconstruction of the worst section of Eumundi-Noosa Road.
Mr Elmes said he had been fighting for this road upgrade since 2007 and all sources of possible funding had been explored and priority considered and re-considered.
“I thank the Minister for Transport, Scott Emerson, and the Newman LNP Government for recognising the importance of this arterial road to the Noosa community and sourcing the necessary funds from his road works budget,” he said.
Mr Elmes said the upgrade had been delayed because of the higher priority given to the road rehabilitation work made necessary because of the cyclones and floods, which had caused such devastation across Queensland. During the period 2010 to 2013, the cost to the state from these essential works was $6.923 billion.
“This complements the rehabilitation work from the roundabout at Emu Mountain Road to Grays Road which cost $6.5 million and was completed in 2012,” he said.
“This is the major entrance from the south into Noosa. It is a major link for local commuter traffic, for kids going to and from school every day for all the local tradies plying their trades as well as for tourists.”
Mr Elmes said the works would transform Eumundi-Noosa Road into one which people would be proud to use as well as for visitors to use and which will be safe for the 12,000 vehicles using it on a daily basis.
“Users will notice that preliminary works will commence in December 2014, weather permitting,” he said.
“We are very conscious about the impact that road works will have on traffic movement and commuter travel times and so we want to minimise that disruption.
“Accordingly, works will commence in earnest during February 2015 following the tourist season and is expected to take 12 weeks to complete.”
