Historic budget for Australia’s NSW roads, maritime and freight

New South Wales Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay has announced an historic US$5.8 billion investment in this year’s budget to support the huge infrastructure program currently underway to build and upgrade critical road, maritime and freight networks.

Budget highlights include US$3.1 billion for regional NSW including US$1.5 billion to continue fast tracking major upgrades of key regional highways, US$1.3 billion to build a world class motorway for Sydney and US$139 million towards easing city congestion.

Announcing the budget, Gay said, “Today’s announcement brings the overall funding commitment in this portfolio since March 2011 to US$21.3 billion – the largest series of investments in the state’s history.”

“Not only are we well advanced in delivering the biggest infrastructure program in the state’s history, we’re also investing record levels – US$1.2 billion this financial year alone – to repair and maintain existing road and maritime assets,” Gay said.