Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt defends Bruce Highway works amid damning report

A Far North MP has pointed to a drop in federal funding while defending his government’s work to improve the embattled Bruce Highway.

A Far North MP has pointed to a drop in federal funding while defending his government’s work to improve the embattled Bruce Highway.

It comes after a secret Australian Road Assessment Program report found almost half the highway from Brisbane to Cairns failed basic safety ratings and just 10 per cent was assessed as extremely safe.

The majority of the highway between Cairns and Innisfail has a safety rating of two or three stars out of five, while almost all of the road further south to Tully is rated two-stars.

However Mulgrave MP and Queensland Speaker Curtis Pitt has stood by his government’s work to improve the road, particularly between Edmonton and Gordonvale.

“Right across the state, this Labor government has delivered more projects under the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program than ever before,” he said.

“This includes the 10.5km upgrade and duplication of the Bruce Highway between Edmonton and Gordonvale, the largest road project even undertaken in Cairns for the busiest section of the Bruce outside of the southeast corner.

“This massive $535m project which opened last year will improve safety, flood resilience and capacity for Far North Queenslanders.”

Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt has pointed to a drop in federal funding while defending his government’s work to improve the embattled Bruce Highway. Picture: Brendan Radke

Flood-immunity works in the region meant impacts to the road now lasted “for three hours instead of three days,” Mr Pitt said.

“That makes an enormous difference for transport logistics and our local economy,” he said.

However further south, works to upgrade the Gairloch floodway in the Tully and Ingham region are more than a decade overdue according to Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto.

What appears to be a stalemate between the state and federal governments has left the $48m project without a construction timeline.

Mr Pitt said there was “no doubt” that a federal government decision last year to fund only 50 per cent of Bruce Highway upgrades, instead of 80 per cent as it had done previously, would have an impact on the region.

A spokeswoman for federal Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Catherine King did not answer questions about when the Gairloch floodway project would move forward, but said planning works would inform future investment decisions.

“Planning and development works under the Gairloch Floodway project are well underway and expected to be completed soon,” she said.

“As Queensland’s major freight and commuter corridor, the Bruce provides critical linkages between inland production areas and eleven coastal ports and major regional centres.

“That’s why the Albanese Government is investing over $10bn towards a safer, smoother and more reliable Bruce Highway.”

Mr Pitt said the state government would continue to fight for Queenslanders, saying works over the last 10 years had already led to a drop in the crash rate.

“Road safety data shows a consistent and verifiable reduction in road crashes and casualties per vehicle kilometres travelled since the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program commenced in 2014,” he said.

“The average crash rate per hundred vehicle kilometres travelled has reduced from 14.7 to 11.2 since the Bruce Highway upgrade program began.”

Originally published as Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt defends Bruce Highway works amid damning report