Pledge to fix Bruce Hwy traffic headache from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast

Horrific traffic snarls on a notorious patch of the Bruce Highway would be reduced as part of a cash injection to be promised by the Opposition leader on Sunday.

TRAFFIC snarls on the Bruce Highway from Brisbane’s north up to the Sunshine Coast will be reduced as part of a $733 million cash injection for “quicker, safer trips”, to be promised by Opposition leader Anthony Albanese alongside Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Sunday.

In the biggest infrastructure funding announcement in Queensland by the Opposition leader so far, the cash will be used to widen the major arterial road from six lanes to eight lanes along a 12.9km stretch from Anzac Ave at Mango Hill to Uhlmann Road at Caboolture South.

As well as creating 535 construction jobs, the Labor leaders will spruik it as being part of the preparations for the Olympics to get faster trips to the Sunshine Coast.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will make a major funding commitment to fix the Bruce Highway on Sunday. Picture: Brad Fleet

It is a significant funding announcement which will go from the safe LNP seat of Petrie to the marginal LNP seat of Longman, which recent polling shows is on a knife’s edge and within Labor’s grasp.

Under an Albanese Government, the Federal Government would pay for $586.4 million while the state would cover the remaining $146 million.

It is in addition to an earlier $200 million pledge to widen the highway from Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Ave at Mango Hill.

Mr Albanese said the cash was coming after the Morrison Government “failed to announce” any new construction money in the March budget.

“I want to be a Prime Minister who builds things,” Mr Albanese said.

“Building better roads means jobs for Queenslanders, increased productivity as people and freight are moved around quicker, and a safer journey for people returning home from work.

“With Brisbane’s north continuing to grow and with the Olympics on the horizon, easing congestion will be so important to protect and enhance the lifestyle Queenslanders enjoy.”

Joining the political attack on the Coalition, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland was not “getting its fair share” from the Morrison Government.

Traffic snarls on the Bruce Highway like this will be reduced after a $733 million upgrade between Mango Hill and Caboolture South. Picture: Annette Dew

“We welcome this boost to the Bruce, which will mean quicker, safer trips between Caboolture and Brisbane, and up to the Sunshine Coast as we build towards the Olympics,” she said.
“It’s clear Anthony Albanese gets Queensland and will work together with us to deliver the infrastructure our growing state needs for the future.”

The Coalition announced $27 million for three business cases for upgrades on the Bruce Highway between Anzac Ave and Caboolture-Bribie Island Road, as well as $400 million to upgrade the Inland Highway known as the “second Bruce Highway”.

The previous year it committed $400 million to upgrade the Bruce Highway between Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Opposition transport and infrastructure spokeswoman Catherine King said the Bruce Highway was the “backbone of Queensland” but accused the Coalition of ”stalling” on funding.

Originally published as Pledge to fix Bruce Hwy traffic headache from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast