Mr Wallace joined the Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall at the base of the range today to announce the first instalment of the Bligh Government's Safer Roads Sooner program out of the recent State Budget.

Minister Wallace said up to $500,000 would be spent boosting visibility and safety for motorcyclists on the popular tourist road. 

"The safety improvements will include raised reflective pavement markers, audible tactile line marking and extra guardrails at specific locations on the range," he said.

 A further $1.5 million has been allocated for further safety works in the next financial year.

Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall had campaigned strongly for extra safety measures on the popular tourist route.

"I know this range like the back of my hand and I am always conscious of the need to be vigilant, particularly on the tight turns.  These upgrades will go a long way towards making it safer for all road users," Mr Wettenhall said.

Mr Wettenhall said the Safer Roads Sooner funding formed part of a $3.41million package on a range of measures over the coming year to improve safety at 13 accident hot spots on Far North roads.

"There are high priority areas on the Kennedy Highway, Captain Cook Highway and Gordonvale-Atherton Road section of Gillies Range that will receive government funding," he said.

Mr Wallace said the state's $66 million Safer Roads Sooner program is designed to help reduce the road toll and the number of accidents where people sustain serious injuries.

"We've seen the road toll almost halve this year compared with last year, but every death is one too many.  We need to turn those statistics around and that's why this funding is so important," Mr Wallace said.
Mr Wallace said he was buoyed by the allocation of funds that will help improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in the Far North's tourism hub.

"I was in Cairns in May with Steve inspecting the finishing touches to $1.8 million in cyclist safety upgrades on the roundabouts between Cairns and Kewarra Beach that were funded under Safer Roads Sooner funding last year," he said.

Three of the key projects for this financial year include $500,000 each to remove roadside hazards and install roadside markers on the Kennedy Highway between Smithfield and Kuranda, on the Captain Cook Highway from Palm Cove to Craiglie and on the Gordonvale to Atherton Road on the Gillies Range.

Across Queensland, projects include new signage, line markings, guardrails and street lighting.

"We will also install new generation high visibility LED lanterns, as well as new high visibility "cats eyes" at locations around regional Queensland.

"It's more than road safety.  It's about jobs for local road workers at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever," he said.