Noosa Rd, Bolcaro Rd bridges open as $1bn Gympie Bypass hits milestone

The mammoth 26km Gympie Bypass has reached a turning point two years after earth was first broken on the Bruce Highway project. VIDEO.

The Gympie Bypass has hit a major milestone with the first two overpass bridges on the $1bn project were open for traffic.

The State Government announced the opening in a media statement Friday afternoon, saying the bridges at Bolcaro Rd East Deep Creek and Noosa Rd Monkland could now be used by motorists.

Work on the bypass has been underway since October 2020.

Construction on the two newly opened overpass bridges started in March 2021 with the roads realigned as part of the work.

The bridges are the first of 42 being built at 23 locations across the region’s road network, waterways and the North Coast Rail Line.

The speed limit of 40kmh on Noosa Rd will remain in place until late 2023, the State Government spokesman said.

The first of 42 bridges being built along the Gympie Bypass have been opened to traffic.

A new under pass at Keefton Rd is now opened as well.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said scale of the bypass was “amazing”.

“ In the southern contract there will be two bridges over 250m long crossing the flood plains at Six Mile and Deep Creeks.

The opening of the bridges across the bypass is a major milestone for the project, which has been under construction for two years.

“This region has endured an extended wet season and multiple floods already this year, and the new Gympie Bypass will significantly increase the Bruce Highway’s flood immunity.”

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said investment in the bypass was supporting “more than 570 jobs over the life of the project”.

“We are investing in projects like this right across Queensland, giving Australians the safe road connections they need and deserve while creating jobs and unlocking economic growth.”