Qld Government says work on $1bn Gympie Bypass to end in October

Thousands of residents from as far away as Brisbane have celebrated the looming completion of the $1bn Gympie Bypass at a mammoth street party as new details emerge on when it will open. SEE THE VIDEOS, PICS

Less traffic, fewer trucks and better safety are among the major benefits Gympie residents and Queensland drivers say they are looking forward to when the $1bn Gympie Bypass opens in October.

Four years of work on the billion-dollar project was celebrated Saturday in a mammoth street party on a southern part of the 26km stretch outside the city.

Residents from all ages, and from places as close as Curra and Tin Can Bay to as far as Brisbane, hit the road to enjoy live music, food and the chance to take a stroll along part of the project which is only two months away from completion.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish revealed October was the expected finishing date on the project, if the weather holds, although a specific date remains unknown with final works still under way on the northern part of the Bypass.

The cost of the project is listed as $1.162bn.

It is expected more than 11,000 cars will be redirected away from the city centre once the stretch is open to traffic.

Less traffic, fewer trucks and better safety are among the major benefits Gympie residents and Queensland drivers say they are looking forward to when the $1 billion Gympie Bypass opens in October.

There was a sense of eagerness as to what the Bypass will bring to the region once it is open to traffic.

Glenn Todd spruiked its safety benefits, saying on the old Bruce Highway he had “nearly been wiped out several times”.

Maryborough’s Reynold Campbell said it would keep the state’s arterial road from being cut when Gympie floods, and Curra’s Quenton Hawkins said it was going to be “a huge thing for Gympie”.

“Getting on the highway now is almost impossible” he said.

“Parking in town will be easier, I think it’s going to be a great thing for the town.”

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The project involved constructing a new 26-km, four-lane divided highway between the existing Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, just south of Gympie, and Curra, north of the city.

Check out some of the fun and festivities in the gallery below.

Spencer, Jess, Amelia, and Brad McCartin celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Tim Joyce and Judy Kruger celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Brian and Leanne Day celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Reef Oakham and Bonnie Adderson celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Thea van den Berg and Fiona Herrington, from the Heart of Gold Film Festival, celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Tim and Karen Wood celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Lis Pyott and Leo celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Andrew and Ayla Bourne celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Melissa, Finn, Ryan and Nate Simmons celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Peter and Jen Southern celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Les and Sharon Thomas celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Ros and Pete Raynes celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Brigitta Hendry and Linda McHenry celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Peter Wilson and Paul Boyce celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Karen Brodbeck and Tullow Boyles celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Robyn and Grant Godfrey celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Tania and Zander Buchanan celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Alex Lewis and Casey Burron celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Alex Miriaev, Karyl Wahoo, and Kathryn Miriaev celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Howard and Liz Davies celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Heather and Glenn Todd celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Lilly Garnham, Jocelyn Roy, Janet Ferris, and George Ferris celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Rose and Peter Sama celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Shirley and Ron Richards celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Kaity, Aiden, Fearghus, Todd and Artie Harrison celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Blake and Heidi Reedy celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Judy Kington and Quenton Hawkins celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Natalie Upshall and Shyanne Godfrey celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Millie Window and Candice Jones celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Riley Franz, Torri Franz, Shanna Lieschke, Tori Mason, Shellie Johns, Jessika Franz, and Arlo Bond celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

John and Myrtle Hunt celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Reynold and Nyrelle Campbell celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Jaxon and Elle Robson celebrate the impending opening of the Gympie Bypass at a community event on Saturday August 17, 2024.

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said in a media release about the announcement the stretch “will improve safety, flood resilience and capacity for motorists as well as meeting the transport needs of the Gympie and Sunshine Coast communities well into the future”.

Federal Regional Development Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm said recent wet weather did not dampen efforts to finish the Bypass on schedule.

“While we’ve experienced some wet weather this week, local construction crews are determined to take advantage of the drier months and good construction conditions to have the bypass open to the public by October this year,” Mr Chisholm said in the release.

“This is the culmination of 15 year's worth of construction on the 62-kilometre Bruce Highway upgrade, and it’s a privilege to celebrate this massive achievement.”