Queensland based Morton Bay Regional Council has made an investment into the Morton Bay Rail Link from Petrie to Kippa-Ring with contracts to be awarded for more than one hundred million dollars.

The council’s contribution will be a $105 million investment on the rail link, which already has a cost of $1.15 billion with funding from the Australian and Queensland governments.

These council contributions will include bridges over the planned rail corridor at Dohles Rocks Road and Goodfellows Road, Kallangur and at Kinsellas Road East, Mango Hill.

Funding will be divided into $80 million for a four lane bridge over the rail corridor at Dohles Rocks Road, with a re-alignment of Duffield and Goodfellows roads.

The remainder of funds will go towards a two-lane bridge and pedestrian and cycle access over the rail corridor at Kinsellas Road East.

Mayor Allan Sutherland said the early contract involvement tender process for the design and construction of the overpasses is already in train with contracts expected to be awarded within the next few months.

Construction contract awards for the Kinsellas Road East overpass could be given as early next month and the Dohles Rocks Road project by July, Mr Sutherland said.

“There are early works and they’re intended to help minimise, as much as practical, the impact of building one of the biggest public transport infrastructure projects this region has seen for many decades,” Mr Sutherland said.

He said council is investigating the potential to bring forward other associated road works planned in the area to minimise costs, re-engineering and disruption.

According to Mr Sutherland, the rail link will deliver a “congestion-busting” sustainable public transport option for the region by 2016.

“The Morton Bay Rail Link will bring huge benefits to the entire region including up to 8000 jobs during construction and is expected to become a catalyst for additional investment,” he said.