New details revealed of first projects in $9 million Bruce Hwy fix

High risk sections of the Bruce Hwy north of Gympie to be given priority in the $9bn fix will include special projects at Curra, Bauple, and between Torbanlea and Gin Gin. FULL DETAILS

Gympie Bypass interchange at Curra, TMR pic from October 4, 2023.

Work is set to begin on the first set of safety upgrades in the $9 billion Bruce Highway Safety Package to be delivered by the federal and state governments.

The feds committed $7.2 billion in January and the state $1.8 billion to fix the Bruce Highway.

A joint statement on Wednesday said an initial $300 million would be spent on early works and planning including 16 new projects between Gympie and Innisfail that include wide centre line treatments between Rungoo and Mourilyan, overtaking lanes between Ayr and Brandon and a new heavy vehicle rest area in Gin Gin as well as pavement and culvert strengthening.

Construction of those project would commence “immediately”, it said.

Another seven projects will progress pre-construction and design activities for future safety works.

Included in the $200 million early works package will be construction of an all-vehicle rest area on the eastern side of the Curra Interchange of the Gympie Bypass

Transport infrastructure will begin, with $38 million committed to early works on critical beef roads in Queensland, $188 million to get started on the Bruce Highway Gladstone to Rockhampton upgrades, and $37 million to get started on upgrading sections of the Capricorn Highway.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said Queenslanders deserved a long-term plan for essential infrastructure.

“Enough is enough, and it’s time to fix this road which is why we’re coming together with the Queensland Government to get it done,” she said.

The $1 billion Gympie Bypass opened late last year, making the next priority the high risk stretches of the Bruce Highway north of Gympie.

“These projects are in high-risk areas north of Gympie, where conditions are poor and safety upgrades will go a long way.”

Included in the $200 million early works package will be construction of an all-vehicle rest area on the eastern side of the Curra Interchange of the Gympie Bypass, widening of Stratford Road at Bauple, widening of Chapmans Road to Stratford Road at Bauple, an upgrade of the Brooks Road intersection at Bauple with a new southbound turning lane, widening of the Barton Road intersection, audio tactile line marking and culvert replacement at Three Mile Creek, a new heavy vehicle rest area at Granite Creek, installation of wide centreline treatment at Pine Mountain Creek to Deep Creek, installation of wide centreline treatment at Bootooloo Road, pavement strengthening at Alligator Creek, Toomulla intersection, Hencamp Creek and other locations, and wide centreline treatment from Dean Road to Tully High School, and Aldridge Road to Poppi Road.

A $100 million design package will be undertaken for priority sections of wide centreline treatment between Torbanlea and Gin Gin, a new heavy vehicle rest area at Gin Gin, priority sections of wide centreline treatment between Etna Creek and Waverley Creek, Marian-Hampden Road and Exmoor Road, and north of Ayr to Zinc Road, Townsville, as well as priority overtaking lanes between Ayr and Brandon, and between Rungoo and Mourilyan.