Council to commence $2 million road upgrade in Gleneagle

Bitumen freshly resurfaced (resealed) at Veresdale Scrub Road, Gleneagle.

A highly travelled road in Gleneagle will soon receive a major upgrade as part of Council's continued commitment to providing ongoing investment in its road network.

Approximately 1.6 kilometres of Veresdale Scrub Road will be reconstructed to widen the road and will also include 1 metre sealed shoulders, the re-forming of overall drainage and upgrade of cross-road drainage.

The Australian Government has allocated $2,178,106 to construct 1000 metres of the road through its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, with Council planning to reconstruct the additional 600 metres subject to future budget allocation.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the works will upgrade the section of road from the intersection of the Mount Lindesay Highway towards Fields Road at Gleneagle, contributing to a safer road network and accommodating for a growing population.

"Veresdale Scrub Road is accessed frequently from the Mount Lindesay Highway which is a key connector for our region for those travelling from Brisbane and the Gold Coast or other parts of the state," he said.

"We need a safe and accessible road network to not only accommodate for our current residents, regular commuters, visitors and our agriculture and tourism industries, but also for our growing population that will depend on reliable and high quality roads for years to come.

"I'd like to acknowledge and thank the Australian Government for the allocation of funding for these important works to be carried out."

Division 2 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Jeff McConnell said that many heavy vehicles frequently use the Mount Lindesay Highway and surrounding connecting roads to deliver goods across the region.

"Our region's foundation is agriculture and tourism, so our roads need to be equipped to handle a high volume of traffic, including heavy vehicles and farm machinery," he said.

"Everyone needs safe and reliable roads to move around."

Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz MP said he was proud to have been part of a government that helped make the project a reality.

“This project will help build community infrastructure, improve local transport routes and make the road safer for all users,” Mr Buchholz said.

“I will continue to fight for improved road infrastructure across the region to make the Scenic Rim a safer place to travel.”

The Veresdale Scrub Road project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the 2023 financial year.

The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.