The federal government has committed a $730 million investment in key north Queensland roads – a move lauded by RACQ as a huge win for drivers in regional Queensland.

The funding will be used to upgrade the Barkly and Flinders highways between Townsville and Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, the Gregory, Dawson and Carnarvon highways between Townsville and Roma, and the Mount Isa to Yeppoon corridor.

“As we’ve seen in the recent floods, the Bruce Highway is incredibly vulnerable to flooding and is cut several times a year,” said Rebecca Michael, RACQ head of public policy. “These inland alternatives will not only provide much needed safety improvements, but also ensure supply chains to north Queensland are maintained when they’re needed most. It’s really positive to see such a substantial commitment from the federal government and now we need the state government to step up and be swift in chipping in their share of the funding. All tiers need to work together if we’re to see these projects come to fruition.”