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Major rail infrastructure projects support regional jobs

Rail projects underway in Queensland worth $305 million are hoped to support more than 1150 regional jobs.

The North Coast line upgrade between Townsville and Rockhampton is the largest project worth $100 million. It started construction in July and will support more than 300 construction jobs.

Works are also underway on an $86 million project to replace 20 timber bridges between Gympie and Cairns, which is expected to support a further 280 jobs.

Later this year works are expected to wrap on a $21 million project to modernise Bundaberg’s rail signalling system and upgrade seven level crossings, and a $28 million project to replace 18 timber bridges between Rosewood and Chinchilla.

Furthermore a $77 million project to lower 11 historic rail tunnels on the Toowoomba Range to allow for larger container trains is expected to finish in early 2020, supporting 130 local jobs.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the projects would support more than 1150 regional jobs, demonstrating the economic importance of Queensland Rail’s upgrade program.

“Our rail network is an essential part of the freight supply chain, supporting regional growth and trade through our ports, which in turn means jobs,” Mr. Bailey said.

Mr. Bailey said rail projects across the state were an important feature of the Queensland Government’s $23 billion roads and transport infrastructure investment over the next four years.

“That investment will create 23,500 jobs, of which more that 13,500 will be done by people in regional Queensland,” Mr. Bailey said.

“We’ve created a pipeline of projects that will support Queensland construction and other related jobs well into the next decade.”


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