Alternative to Bruce Highway mapped out in Brisbane’s north

The Queensland government has released routes for the middle two sections of a 60-kilometre western alternative to the frequently gridlocked Bruce Highway north of Brisbane.

Residents have long questioned the government and Moreton Bay Regional Council over their plan to combat heavy congestion in an area expected to grow by 600,000 people over 40 years.

A horse stables and stud on Bellmere Road, set to become part of the Caboolture West project, was put up for sale for its development potential. It will benefit from a new highway connection.Credit: Tony Moore

The western alternative will run from north Brisbane, near Bald Hills, north-west to Steve Irwin Way at Beerburrum and be built in four stages.

On Thursday, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he had asked his department to provide the “preferred route” for the second stage between Rocksberg, near the Caboolture River, and Browns Road at Narangba, running west of Morayfield.

The preferred route for the 16-kilometre stage two between the Caboolture River and Narangba includes:

• A Moorina Road overpass
• A Forest Hills Drive overpass
• An overpass of Raynbird Road and of Browns Creek
• A link into Narangba, north of Lake Kurwongbah

The department’s website says the preferred route allows for future connections with Forest Hills Drive and Raynbird Road, linking the existing communities of Morayfield, Burpengary, and Narangba as well as the emerging communities of Pine Valley and Morayfield South.

Two of the four stages of the western alternatives to the Bruce Highway out of Brisbane have now been identified by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. 

“I acknowledge this is a difficult time for those directly impacted,” Bailey said.

“The release of the preferred alignment for stage two gives landholders and homeowners more certainty around our future transport needs.

“Moreton Bay is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, and we need to plan for that population growth.”

The information had been provided to give landholders in the Moreton region as much information as possible as quickly as possible, Bailey said.

“This western alternative to the Bruce Highway will be essential in supporting growth and to prevent gridlock between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.”

Stage one of the western bypass, between the Caboolture River and Moodlu on the D’Aguilar Highway, was confirmed in late 2021.

This section allows planning for the large Caboolture West planned development to move ahead as population growth pressures impact Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Corridor planning for stage three (between Narangba and Bald Hills) will begin in 2023, and for the most northern section, stage four (from Moodlu through to Steve Irwin Way) in 2024.

Bailey said he understood residents in the area wanted information on the preferred routes.

Maps of the corridor are available online or at project information sessions. There is no timeframe for construction.