Parts of Bruce Highway to close until 2023 for Gympie Bypass

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien this week announced there would be changed traffic conditions at Curra, Woondum and Veteran as part of the ongoing Section D Cooroy to Curra project, which is due for completion in mid-2024.

Parts of the Bruce Highway north of Gympie will be closed – and traffic diverted around them – until 2023 as the $1 billion Gympie Bypass project drags on.

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien this week announced there would be changed traffic conditions at Curra, Woondum and Veteran as part of the ongoing Section D Cooroy to Curra project, which is due for completion in mid-2024.

“At Curra, a section of Ashfords Road will be temporarily realigned to direct local traffic away from construction activities at the new Curra interchange, ensuring the safety of road users and construction workers,” Mr O’Brien said.

New drone images show the progress of the of the $1 billion, 26km final section of the Gympie Bypass from Woondum to Curra, as seen from East Deep Creek on June 17. Pictures: Josh Preston

“The temporary intersection of Ashfords Road and Harvey Siding Road will open in mid to late August, weather permitting, and the new route will be in place until the new Curra interchange is completed in 2023.”

Another detour will be in place at night to allow heavy earthmoving equipment to cross the existing Bruce Highway at Woondum from Sunday August 22 until Thursday September 16.

Between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday, southbound traffic will be detoured via the Old Bruce Highway between Woondum and Traveston, and traffic signage, barriers and line marking will be in place.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos FEBRUARY 23, 2021: Llew O'Brien before Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Detours, barriers and temporary traffic lights will be in place on Sandy Creek Road and Taylor Road at Veteran to allow for construction of the Sandy Creek Road overpass over the new Bruce Highway from mid-August.

“These works will allow for the upgrade of Sandy Creek Road, construction of a new Taylor Road intersection, and a new section of Rocky Ridge Road that is being realigned to the east of the new highway,” Mr O’Brien said.

“A new 85 metre, two-lane bridge to carry Sandy Creek Road traffic over the new highway will also be constructed.

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“I understand these roadworks may cause some delays or inconvenience to road users, and I ask all road users to please be patient and courteous to construction and traffic management crews, and pay extra attention to the changed road conditions.

“The Gympie bypass is a once-in-a-generation project that is creating 576 direct jobs during construction, and when completed it will save lives and unlock our region’s economic potential.”