Albo’s biggest pledge to QLD needs to be ‘future fit’

The blueprint to fixing Queensland’s most notorious stretch of road needs to include consideration for climate resilience and the rise of electric vehicles, according to an infrastructure group.

MAJOR upgrades of the Bruce Highway need to be “future fit” and take into account climate resilience and the rise of electric vehicles, according to an industry group as the incoming Albanese Government starts talks on delivering its $733 million commitment to ease key bottlenecks on the thoroughfare.

Widening the Bruce Highway from six lanes to eight from Mango Hill to Burpengary was now-Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s biggest infrastructure commitment to Queensland in the election campaign, though no specific time frame for construction to start has been set.

It is expected more details will be known closer to the October budget. Just days into the job, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the upgrade was a priority and she wanted it done as soon as possible.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King. Picture: Brendan Radke

She will hold discussions with state Transport Minister Mark Bailey regarding the project in the coming weeks and months.

“We know this is a priority for Queensland and we will work with them to deliver it as soon as possible,” Ms King said.

“Decisions around phasing and time frames will be made in consultation with the Queensland Government over the coming weeks and months.”

Mr Bailey said he had requested a meeting with Ms King and looked forward to discussing the project with her.

“Noting the federal Infrastructure Minister was sworn in two days ago, I haven’t had the chance to discuss this with her but look forward to doing so in the future,” he said.

Infrastructure Association of Queensland CEO Priscilla Radice said it was critical that any improvements to the road were future fit, from dealing with increased flooding to the arrival of electric vehicles.

Traffic on the Bruce Highway as seen from the Uhlmann Road overpass. Picture: Brad Fleet

“These are big pieces of infrastructure that will last a long time. It’s not just about climate resilience, it’s about being digitally enabled,” Ms Radice said.

“It’s critically important. We can’t keep rebuilding infrastructure in the same way if it keeps getting taken out. It’s not value for money.”

LNP Petrie MP Luke Howarth, whose electorate the upgrade will start in, the former government had put money on the table for projects in 2018, including $800 million, which the state government had yet to start work on.

“I believe the Palaszczuk Government is failing in their responsibility to build roads and highways in any sort of timely manner at all,” he said.

The $733 million Bruce Highway upgrade will cover a 12.9km stretch from Anzac Ave at Mango Hill to Uhlmann Road at Caboolture South, and would create 535 construction jobs.

Originally published as Albo’s biggest pledge to QLD needs to be ‘future fit’