Bruce Hwy Smith’s Gap overtaking lane and cassowary bridge confirmed over budget

A controversial Bruce Highway project that was initially expected to be completed by the middle of this year has blown out of budget by 12 months and about $17m.

A CONTROVERSIAL Bruce Highway project which was initially expected to be completed by the middle of this year has blown out of budget by about $17m with the finishing date delayed for a further 12 months.

Hill MP Shane Knuth, whose office fielded weekly complaints about the Smith’s Gap overtaking lane and fauna crossing project on the Bruce Hwy near El Arish, said the project had dragged on far too long.

Mr Knuth said he received an update from the Department of Transport and Main Roads as recently as this week – advising him the $13m project, which was initially expected to be completed mid-2022, would now cost $30.7m with a new estimated completion of mid-2023.

Construction of the project began in July 2020.

“We have been in regular contact with TMR about the road works and were informed delays were due to wet weather and additional slope stabilisation works that were needed,” Mr Knuth said.

TMR had also previously flagged issues with the site of the bridge, stating in November the department was working with Queensland Rail to determine the best way to stabilise the slope and progress construction of the fauna crossing.

That update had come after locals reported the project and site was a ghost town with the removal of all equipment and lack of information, with Division 1 councillor Barry Barnes in November stating he had been asking questions, but did “not have any updates.”

Peter Rowles, president of local conservation group C4, which has been contracted to supply plants for the fauna crossing was initially told the plant date would be April-May 2021, but he said since then, the updates had been scarce.

Mr Rowles confirmed his contract was still in place with TMR to supply the vegetation, but he had not been provided a new delivery date.

However, this week contractors and orange roadworks safety markers could be again be seen on site.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said contractors had taken back possession of the site and work had restarted following the wet season.

“In late 2020, we identified additional work would be needed to stabilise the steep slope between Bruce Highway and the rail line near the project site,” he said.

“The fauna crossing could not be built until the area was stabilised.

“We applied for additional funding in January 2021 and we received an additional $16.9m in federal funding to allow for the completion of slope stabilisation works before building the overpass.”

“We take cassowary conservation seriously and will continue to work with the Cassowary Recovery Team to find innovative and effective solutions to reduce cassowary vehicle strikes.”

The project is funded under the Australian Government’s Bruce Highway Overtaking Lane Program and is expected to be complete by “late 2022,” according to TMR.

Originally published as Bruce Hwy Smith’s Gap overtaking lane and cassowary bridge confirmed over budget