The Thunderbolts Way, near Gloucester, may receive a face-lift, thanks to a funding decision by MidCoast Council.
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Council has outlined its plans for how it will spend the Strong Communities - Major Projects Fund designed to deliver new or improved infrastructure to the community.
The recommendation to spend the $14 million dollars, given to the council as part of the amalgamation funding, on roads and bridges was passed at the council meeting held at the Gloucester office on Wednesday, February 8.
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MidCoast Council administrator, John Turner said the decision to focus the funds on the road infrastructure came from the extensive conversations with the community about their major concerns, held over the past several months.
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Council’s interim general manager, Glenn Handford explained that the division of funding allocation for each region was determined on a ‘needs’ basis.
The distribution of funds:
- Manning: $9 million
- Gloucester: $4 million
- Great Lakes: $1 million
According to the recommendation report, the Giro Project on the Thunderbolts Way will receive the largest chunk of individual funding with $1.25 million for construction and $250,000 for design preparation.
The projected cost of the safety upgrade of the notoriously dangerous stretch of road is $4.5 million and will require additional State and Federal funding in order to complete.
After numerous discussions with State and Federal government representatives, council says it is under the impression the project will be supported if council provides a third of the total cost.
The report outlines how the road is a major freight route connecting the Northern Tablelands to Newcastle and the Hunter that has been the location of numerous accidents.
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“The steep gradient and sharp bend are a major impediment to the route and have been a source of complaint for the freight industry for many years,” Mr Handford said.
He said there is also $16 million projected to be saved over the next four years, due to the council amalgamation, which will also go into roads and bridges.
“This is on top of the normal allocated funds for the works,” he said.
Council has also lodged a $18 million grant application for a Bucketts Way upgrade, currently waiting for a new funding release, which includes areas south of Gloucester.