Ministers Catherine King and Brent Mickelberg open Bruce highway roadworks

Major Bruce Highway upgrades have started with road widening projects at the notorious Bauple intersection part of the $9 billion safety program. SEE WHAT’S NEXT

Federal and State Ministers Catherine King and Brent Mickelberg were in Bauple on Friday morning to inspect early roadworks as part of a $9 billion Bruce Highway program.

Major Bruce Highway upgrades are underway, with safety improvements at a notorious Bauple intersection one of the first projects to begin as part of the $9 billion safety program.

Federal and state Transport Ministers Catherine King and Brent Mickelberg met at the Stratford St intersection on the Bruce Highway.

Works in Bauple will include road widening and construction of a dedicated left and right turn lane at the Stratford St intersection, a dedicated right turn at the Brooks Rd intersection, and pavement widening on the highway between Chapmans and Stratford Rd.

Federal and State Ministers Catherine King and Brent Mickelberg were in Bauple on Friday morning to inspect early roadworks as part of a $9 billion Bruce Highway program.

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the package would “fast-track critical projects between Gympie and Cairns”.

“Queenslanders deserve a long-term plan for the state’s deadliest road, and that’s what we’re delivering with over $17 billion now committed by the Australian Government to fix the Bruce,” she said.

Mr Mickelberg said the renovations were part of a $200 million early works package trying to tackle hazardous areas after 2024 had more than 40 casualties on the notorious highway.

“We cannot accept that the spine of Queensland can be dangerous,” he said.

Road widening works are underway in Bauple

“42 people lost their lives on the Bruce Highway last year.

“We won’t accept that as the Queensland Government and I know the Federal Government have the same view.”

The roadworks were a timely reminder for discussions on the beginning of construction on the Tiaro Bypass.

“We know how important it is to build capacity into this part of the Bruce Highway,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“It’s well acknowledged that it doesn’t have the capacity and there have been significant safety issues.

Federal and State Ministers Catherine King and Brent Mickelberg were in Bauple on Friday morning to inspect early roadworks as part of a $9 billion Bruce Highway program.

“Tiaro is a well-known bottleneck and hence why the Tiaro bypass is so necessary.

“It’s not tenable to have heavy vehicles going through school zones and areas like Tiaro.”

The other Wide Bay priority project, as part of the early works currently under construction, is a new all-vehicle rest area on the eastern side of the Curra Interchange.