MAIN Roads Minister Craig Wallace today backed Tony Abbott on the need to get cracking on the second range-crossing for the Warrego Highway at Toowoomba including the much-needed bypass of the city.

LNP Shadow Minister for Main Roads Fiona Simpson said Mr Wallace’s pledge during  Estimates at State parliament was welcome, but flew in the face of his Federal Leader who had so far failed to back the project.

“Mr Wallace told Estimates he was all for the second range-crossing and by the bypass, claiming he would lobby his Federal Labor colleagues,” Ms Simpson said.

“That’s fine, but I wonder how successful he’ll be given that the Prime Minister has had nothing to say about the project.”

Ms Simpson said the Warrego Highway was one of Australia’s most important transport links for primary and mineral production.

She said Tony Abbott’s pledge a Federal Coalition Government would have the $1.75 billion bypass under construction by next financial year was great news for Toowoomba, southern Queensland and anyone who used the Warrego Highway.

“There is no more important project for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs,” she said.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what the commitment from Federal Labor will be after Mr Wallace completes his lobbying effort,” Ms Simpson said.