An inland freight route tipped to be a second Bruce highway will get an extra $400 million funding boost in the upcoming federal budget.
Upgrades to the more than 1100-kilometre route - running from Charters Towers in North Queensland to Mungindi on the NSW border - aim to move trucks off existing highways, making it safer and more efficient to transport freight across the two states.
The inland route will also be used as an alternative to the Bruce highway in wet weather events.
Upgrades will include realignments, overtaking lanes, flood resilience and drainage works, pavement widening and safety treatments.
The extra funding will take the total cost of the upgrades to $800 million. The works expect to create more than 2000 jobs in Queensland.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce will announce the extra funding on Thursday.
He says improving key freight routes will drive growth in regional industries.
"To become as strong as possible as quickly as possible, we must sell more of the products that make our country wealthy and strong," he said.
"Slashing travel times for trucks means the valuable commodities they carry reach our ports quicker and we get paid sooner."
