Coalition promised $500 million more for roadworks

The Liberal-National Party coalition, promised about $500 million in new road spending leading up to the October 9 federal election.

That builds on the $1.8 billion the Government committed to the Auslink transport plan released in June.

The biggest portion of the $500 million promise, out of a total of about $13.6 billion promised by both political camps pre election, is $110 million to fund the new northbound road out of Adelaide, an extension of the Sturt Highway.

Elsewhere in South Australia , the coalition promised to:

Fund upgrading of West Avenue ($5m);

Bring forward work on the Port River Expressway ($30m); and

Committed $3 million of new money to the Hampstead Road.

Next biggest nationally was $80 million slated for flood proofing the Bruce Highway near Tully in North Queensland . Tully is arguably Australia's wettest town. Also in North Queensland, $40 million has been tagged for a ring road around Townsville.

Other Queensland projects promised new funding are the Callemondah bypass ($3m), Miriam Vale safety works ($2m), Toowoomba Range crossing ($4m) and a Trans Apex study ($2m).

In New South Wales , the coalition promised to spend $35 million accelerating the bypass of Coolac on the Hume Highway. That will mean total freeway for 430km from Sydney to the halfway point to Melbourne at Tarcutta.

In Western Australia , the coaltion promised to match a commitment announced by Labour in July, by spending $20 million on the Peel deviation to the south of Perth.

Included in the $500 million was a commitment by National Party leader John Anderson of $150 million over five years as part of the Roads to Recovery program and $90 million over two years to the national black spots program.

Also in the coalition package, were the previous commitments in Victoria to spend $120 million on the Mitcham to Frankston freeway (provided the Victorian government reverses its decision to impose a $7 toll on the road), and $21 million for the Pakenham bypass in west Gippsland.

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Coalition promised $500 million more for roadworks

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