MP says new Bruce Highway funding 'falls far short' of fixing notorious stretches
A North Queensland MP has labelled the latest Bruce Highway funding from the state and federal government’s as “disappointing”, saying real investment is needed to future-proof the notorious road – particularly in the north.
A North Queensland MP has labelled the latest Bruce Highway funding from the state and federal government’s as “disappointing”, saying real investment is needed to future-proof the notorious road – particularly in the north.
The region has secured a significant portion of the latest works under the $9bn targeted safety program which was announced in the state budget, with pavement strengthening and widening scheduled for key stretches between Bowen, Townsville and Ingham.
The upgrades are part of a joint investment of more than $500m from the Albanese and Crisafulli governments which involves 22 new projects statewide.
Dawson MP Andrew Willcox labelled the funding announcement as “disappointing”, saying there was no significant investment in long-term safety or future-proofing the corridor.
“These works are simply patching the surface of a highway that desperately needs real investment,” he said.
“Pavement strengthening alone is not enough. Our communities need major upgrades; bridges, overtaking lanes, flood mitigation, and long-term planning to ensure the Bruce is safe and resilient for decades to come.”
Mr Willcox said he is calling on the Albanese Government to commit to major, long-term investment in the Bruce rather than relying on “minimal, token projects that fail to address the scale of the problem.
“These small-scale works are a start, but they fall far short of what is required to protect lives and support regional communities,” he said.
“The people of Dawson deserve more than crumbs, they deserve a Bruce Highway that is safe, reliable, and future-ready.”
The announcement lists pavement strengthening in four sections from Bowen to Ayr, six sections between Ayr and Townsville and five sections from Townsville to Ingham.
The government advised the work came from feedback of road users and stakeholders about the condition of the Bruce with the goal to enhance skid resistance and improve vehicle stability.
Further works will be undertaken from Mackenzie Creek to Tindall Court, involving road widening and wide centre line treatment.
This comes after the government also announced the section at Gairloch, a notoriously dangerous and flood-prone section of the Bruce Highway, which has been the scene of numerous serious car crashes, will receive $50m worth of upgrades and improvements.
The upgrades, which are now design-complete and set to go to tender in the coming months, are expected to begin next year.
North Queensland residents have spent decades calling for significant safety improvements on the notorious stretches of the Bruce, which are frequently plagued by potholes and crumbling areas during the wet season – with some saying there is need for a double lane highway along the stretches.
Engineers say the installation of wide centre lines and audio tactile line marking can reduce the risk of head-on collisions by up to 60 per cent on high-volume rural roads by creating greater distance between opposing traffic.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the government remained “deeply committed to improving road safety.”
State Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the safety upgrades were needed to service the “spine of our state”.
When questioned if there was need for further upgrades to the North Queensland sections of the Bruce, Mr Mickelberg said the government was focused on “delivering for regional Queenslanders.”
“That’s why we worked hard to secure 80:20 funding for the Bruce Highway with the federal government and a historic $9bn investment to improve this vital corridor,” he said.
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Originally published as MP says new Bruce Highway funding 'falls far short' of fixing notorious stretches
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