Inspecting traffic flows at the Yeppen Roundabout today, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate, Ron Boswell, said he would go in to bat again to bolster the safety of local people as freight and commuter demand on local road infrastructure increases. Senator Boswell was invited to get a first hand appreciation of the need to upgrade the Yeppen roundabout and its approaches, as well as the intersection of the Bruce Highway and Jellicoe Street, by The Nationals Candidate for Capricornia, Robert Mills, and by Kym Mobbs of the Central Queensland Area Consultative Committee. “This vital link between Rockhampton and the Capricorn and Bruce Highways, is clearly  approaching a point where it will need some work to make it safer, and keep the traffic flowing. “I have seen today for the first time some preliminary planning work that has been done by Queensland Main Roads in cooperation with the CQACC,” Senator Boswell said. The preliminary upgrade plan presented to Senator Boswell today includes : • Inter-directional (Heavy Haulage) traffic lights/island up-grade at Jellicoe Street intersection • Dual lane approaches to existing Yeppen Floodway/Bridge • Construction of second Floodway/Bridge with dual lane access • Continued dual lane access to Capricorn/Bruce Highway Roundabout • Construction of dual lane (heavy haulage) roundabout with direction lights and swing-off lanes • Continued dual lane exits onto both Capricorn & Bruce Highways Senator Boswell said he had been informed by Capricornia Candidate, Robert Mills, of the heavy traffic movements at the intersection of the two major highways and that recent increased freight movements and traffic incidents at the Jellicoe Street intersection were concerning local residents. “This is clearly a heavily patronised section of major strategic infrastructure, and is becoming more so with increasing pressure that the growth of the Rockhampton region has brought on local roads,” Senator Boswell said. “I have a track record of delivering on funding for local projects such as the $7 million Rockhampton airport runway extension and, more recently, the Livingstone Pipeline, with a $16.5 million contribution, as well as many others. “I will go in to bat again for Rockhampton on this important issue,” Senator Boswell said. ENDS Media contact - 0428 714 779