The NSW Labor party today announced it would commit $60 million of upgrades over four years for the Kings Highway should it be elected to government at the next state election in March 2015.
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Upgrades to the highway, which was last month ranked the sixth worst highway by an NRMA survey, would happen in different stages across a four-year term of government, local Country Labor candidate Steve Whan said.
The commitment outlines plans to build more overtaking lanes, improve road alignments, surfacing and signage, as well as installing extra safety barriers and widening bridges.
Part of the commitment would also be $16 million to improve the road between Queanbeyan and Bungendore, Mr Whan said.
He added the Kings Highway was a major thoroughfare for commuters in the Monaro and ACT region that needed "substantial" improvements.
"It's not about a single project that can go over budget, it's about a series of projects that would actually need to be done to improve this road," Mr Whan said.
"This Kings Highway project is something that's very important to people in Queanbeyan, as well as Bungendore and Braidwood, and I know that we need to keep working on it and not let slip what we're spending each year."
NSW opposition leader John Robertson said the commitment would also benefit the safety of commuters who use the road.
"The Kings Highway is an important part of our roads network, and we need a good commitment here that improves road safety for people in the seat of Monaro, and that enhances the capacity of this highway," Mr Robertson said.
But member for Monaro John Barilaro said his government had already made improvements to the road since early last year, and planned to continue improvements in the future.
“We’ve been busy rolling out a package of safety work following extensive investigations by this government during the the Kings Highway Route Safety Review report,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Also in planning at present is a major curve realignment and enforcement bay one kilometre east of Nelligen, as well as safety improvements on the Clyde Mountain and a minor realignment and shoulder widening near Misty Mountain.”
NSW Country Labor's announcement followed their annual conference which was held at Queanbeyan's Bicentennial Hall.
It capped off a big week in politics for Queanbeyan, which also saw deputy premier Troy Grant in the city for a number of other funding announcements.