Bruce Highway Easter holiday traffic guide, roadworks and completion times

Key tips for holiday-makers and locals looking to avoid traffic jams on the Bruce Hwy around the Sunshine Coast while more than $960m in roadworks continue have been revealed.

Holiday-makers planning trips to the Sunshine Coast have been urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for traffic with continued Bruce Hwy upgrade works throughout the Easter School holidays tipped to affect traffic. Generic image. Photo AAP/ Ric Frearson

Holiday-makers planning trips to the Sunshine Coast have been urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for traffic with continued Bruce Hwy upgrade works throughout the Easter School holidays tipped to affect traffic.

Roadworks are expected to impact traffic with two areas tipped to be where you’ll experience your worst headaches.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said works on the highway will continue throughout the Holidays, but will pause from the night of April 7 until April 10 for the Easter long weekend.

See our Easter holiday traffic guide for details on what to avoid and what to plan ahead for:

Where are the roadworks being done?

There are two main Bruce Highway upgrades affecting the Sunshine Coast, one between Bribie Island Road at Caboolture and Steve Irwin Way at Beerburrum; and the other at Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges at Forest Glen.

The upgrade between Caboolture and Beerburrum will widen the road from four lanes to six for the 11 kilometre stretch.

The Maroochydore and Mons Rd intersections on the Bruce Hwy at Forest Glen.

The upgrade at Forest Glen includes the roundabout at Maroochydore Rand Nambour Connection Roads being converted into an interchange with traffic lights while widening Mons Road under the Bruce Hwy and on-ramp and off-ramp access points.

A four-lane bridge over the Bruce Hwy replaced an older bridge, which was demolished in January 2023.

How will they affect my trip?

A department spokesperson said traffic control, signage and reduced speed limits will be at each road works site and may impact travel time and traffic flow.

They recommended holiday-makers plan trips, allow extra travel time, drive to the changed conditions and follow road signs.

Normal construction hours for the Caboolture to Beerburrum upgrade are from 6am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 7am to 5pm on Saturdays. Nightworks are from 7pm to 5am Sunday to Friday.

Bruce Highway, Forest Glen. Picture: Patrick Woods.

General hours for the Forest Glen upgrades are 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. Nightworks are from 7pm until 5am, Sunday to Thursday.

Works are to be completed throughout the day whenever possible, however some works need to be done at night when there is less traffic.

When will they be complete?

Work on the Caboolture to Beerburrum upgrade is expected to be completed by late 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting. Construction began in November 2020.

The Forest Glen upgrade is expected to be completed mid-2023, weather and construction conditions permitting.

The old Maroochydore Rd bridge (pictured) was demolished in January 2023 to make way for the new upgrades. Photo: TMR

What is the overall cost?

Both projects are jointly-funded by the state and federal governments with a total cost of $963.75m.

The federal government contributed $530m to the Caboolture to Beerburrum upgrade and $241m to the Forest Glen upgrade.

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The state government contributed $132.5m to the Caboolture to Beerburrum upgrade and $60.25m to the Forest Glen upgrade.

How will they improve traffic once complete?

The Caboolture to Beerburrum upgrade is expected to increase traffic flow and vehicle capacity as well as improving road safety and flood immunity.

The department spokesperson said the works at Forest Glen is expected to reduce travel time by up to 10 minutes at peak times, once complete.