All I Want For Christmas Is The Road Fixed

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox this week showed his frustration with a Christmas twist on social media at the stagnant road works on the Bruce Highway between Bowen and Proserpine.

In his own rendition of the “Love Actually” famous scene, the Federal Member held up a card in the middle of construction bollards stating, “All I Want For Christmas is the Road Fixed!”

This comes after the Department of Transport and Main Roads released a statement update that works have been pushed back again, stating “due to be completed in 2024, weather permitting.”

“The hard reality is locals are over it. We have been dealing with dangerous road conditions and lowered speed limits with no action for almost 12 months and to hear the completion date keeps getting dragged out is very frustrating.”  Mr Willcox said.

“While I am relieved that new contractors have been appointed and works will recommence it is just not good enough to expect locals to put up with this. If this road was in the Southeast corner, they would not be waiting years for 6 kilometres of safety improvements to be completed. We are, quite frankly, sick of being treated like second class citizens in the regions by the Queensland Government.”

Mr Willcox has had many constituents comment on his Facebook post expressing their frustrations:

“I shake my head. Our roads are a danger and a joke. If the rain season starts there is going to be so much more damage, called potholes. It is supposed to be the Bruce Highway. Trucks using the highway are many. It must be so frustrating when drivers are on a schedule.”

“I find the tall red bollards very difficult to see through at the intersection of Bowen. They have been there for so long it’s unbelievable. I breathe a sigh of relief every time I successfully make the right turn to continue the Bruce Highway south. Feel like second class citizens on Anastasia and her “governments” Santa or any other lists.”

“If the roads can’t be fixed, can someone please revise the speed limits? Doing 60 in some and 80 in other sections with no workers and no work happening is ridiculous, especially when it’s stretched so far. When is it enough? When someone loses their life?”

These projects are part of the $12.6 billion Bruce Highway upgrade program jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments with $10 billion contributed by the Australian Government and $2.6 billion contributed by the Queensland Government.

“The previous Federal Government showed their commitment to road safety by funding $10 billion towards these Bruce Highway safety upgrades. The people of Dawson deserve the Queensland Government to have this same commitment.

“I urge the Queensland Government to prioritise road safety for the people of Dawson and just get the job done.” Mr Willcox said