The Government of Queensland in Australia has signed a new agreement with the federal government to accelerate the delivery of 22 regional road projects.

The A$185m ($121.2m) of road works will be jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

The road projects will include the construction of overtaking lanes, modernisation of intersections, sealing of roads and safety improvement works across Queensland.

The initiative is expected to create new road construction jobs in the region.

This programme includes several key regional routes such as Flinders Highway, Kennedy Developmental Road (Hann Highway), Carnarvon Highway, Dawson Highway and Dawson Developmental Road (Springsure – Tambo), Gulf Developmental Road and Gregory Highway, among others.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said that early works will be delivered on corridors identified under the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative.

McCormack said: “As the effects of Covid-19 ripple through our economy, it is vital all levels of government work together to support jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger and safer regional communities.

“Delivering early works through the ROSI initiative will give regional Queensland communities access to new projects and jobs.

“We are committed to delivering the Federal Government’s A$100bn, ten-year infrastructure pipeline which will support our economy and create jobs, particularly for those in the construction and building supply chain sectors, through the current Covid-19 response.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “We’ll talk with the local councils through the Regional Roads and Transport Groups and other key industry stakeholders who use those corridors to identify projects that can be prioritised within the remaining ROSI corridor allocations.”