Opinion: Bruce Hwy closures bring Qld to a shuddering halt

When the Bruce is closed, Queensland is closed, and it was closed for an appalling amount of time in 2024, writes Brent Mickelberg.

Past roadworks on the Bruce Highway in Far North Queensland

There has been a lot of talk, for decades, about the safety and reliability of Queensland’s Bruce Highway. Just how costly is the current condition of the Bruce to our state?

Sadly, the biggest cost is the devastating loss of life on the 1600km stretch of road.

In 2024, 42 people lost their lives in crashes on the Bruce Highway.

Each death represents a tragic loss for families and communities and leaves lasting trauma on first responders and other motorists.

The Bruce was closed 81 times in different locations last year, for a total time of 31 days. That’s an entire month of closures.

When the Bruce is closed, Queensland is closed, and it was closed for an appalling amount of time in 2024.

The Bruce Highway serves 62 per cent of Queensland’s population and supports our essential services by connecting regional centres, creating links between Brisbane and Cairns.

Each year, it facilitates the transport of 20m tonnes of freight, supporting major industries such as agriculture, resources, construction, and manufacturing to 11 trading ports.

The Bruce is often referred to as our state’s spine, and it has been crippled by years of neglect by both levels of government.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg

The Crisafulli government is showing Queensland that we will strengthen the Bruce and deliver a plan to future-proof our biggest piece of road infrastructure.

The Federal bipartisan commitment to reinstate the 80:20 funding split to the Bruce Highway is of course welcomed. It’s what we as a new LNP government have fought so hard to secure, within just two months since being elected.

It was no doubt helped over the line by strong advocacy from industry bodies like RACQ and the Queensland Trucking Association, as well as The Courier-Mail’s Help Our Highway campaign.

It’s now up to us to deliver the safety upgrades and end the destructive trend of fatalities and highway closures.

Our newly formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council met before Christmas. Each region is represented with a voice, from truck drivers, road safety advocates, business owners and regular commuters.

This is how we will prioritise upgrades and how to start work without further delay.

Queenslanders are sick of inaction by former governments. We will have shovels in the ground on Bruce Highway upgrades this year.

Brent Mickelberg is Minister for Transport and Main Roads