Bruce Highway action plan to finally finish our deadliest stretch

An action plan outlines the multiple steps that must be taken to finally finish Queensland’s most infamous stretch of highway.

Funding for the Bruce Highway by state and federal government must be increased, real-time weather warnings explored and an audit of rest stops undertaken as part of a blueprint to fix the problem-plagued route.

The action plan comes amid growing calls from local government leaders and peak bodies for a commitment from state and federal government leaders to significantly improve the Bruce Highway.

The Courier-Mail is partnering with NRMA Insurance and regional news mastheads across Queensland this year to drive positive outcomes through the Help Our Highway advocacy campaign.

The wishlist includes increased funding commitments from the state and federal government for the route between 2025 and 2030 and exploring technology solutions for real-time weather, flooding and pothole warnings.

There should also be an audit of rest stop areas to ensure there are enough and are fit for purpose, and for the state government to finalise the strategic vision for the Bruce Highway as recommended by a special advisory council in late 2022.

A number of regional Queensland projects should also be prioritised, including the $48m Gairloch flood immunity upgrade north of Townsville, the Burdekin Bridge duplication, and flood mitigation at Goorganga Plains north of Mackay.

As part of the Help Our Highway campaign transport minister Bart Mellish reaffirmed crucial Queensland data outlining deadly crash hotspots on the Bruce Highway would be made public by 2025.

Bruce Highway traffic banked up between Townsville and Ingham following a fatal motorcycle crash

The Bruce Highway is the biggest carrier of traffic in the state. It is also the longest highway in Australia at about 1700km — a distance equivalent to driving from Paris to Naples.

NRMA Insurance chief executive Julie Batch said public sharing of important road safety data was critical for funding decisions and prioritisation of projects that will have the greatest impact on the safety of Queenslanders.

Queensland Trucking Association chief executive Gary Mahon said fit-for-purpose rest stops along the Bruce Highway were essential, with the peak body arguing there should be one every 200km along the route.

But at the moment the rest stops are randomly dispersed and of “pretty ordinary” standard, he said.

Mr Mahon also called for “ambition” from government leaders in the lead up to the Bruce Highway’s centenary, which is just 10 years away.

“We should have a progressive program set forward for the centenary year … and the focus should be on the regions,” he said.

Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Bruce Highway was the main connection between the northern and southern ends of the state and disruptions on the road hamper economic prosperity.

“We have a $38bn pipeline of projects coming into our region in the next six years … if this highway gets flooded, or taken out for weeks on end, it affects timings and cost of projects,” she said.

“Big projects like the Burdekin Bridge duplication are once in a generation projects.”

POINT BY POINT

● Long-term, detailed commitment from the federal government to finally “finish the Bruce”

● Finalise the strategic vision recommended by the Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council

● State and federal governments to increase funding commitments from 2025-30

● Explore technology solutions including real-time weather, flooding and pothole warnings

● Audit rest stop areas along the Bruce Highway to ensure there is enough and they are fit for purpose

●Prioritise regional Queensland projects including:

Delivery of the $48m Gairloch Flood Immunity Upgrade north of Townsville

Fast-track safety improvements and overtaking lanes at Inkerman (Bowen-Ayr)

Burdekin Bridge duplication

Improve rest areas between Ayr and Bowen where there are high incidences of fatigue-related crashes

Flood mitigation at Goorganga Plains north of Mackay

Complete the Rockhampton Ring Rd on time

Deliver the Tiaro Bypass north of Gympie

Queensland government to release publicly Bruce Highway safety data from AusRAP (WIN)