Minister Mark Bailey visits Voss Rd, Isis Hwy intersection upgrade site

Queensland’s transport minister had some words of advice as major road works continue at a key highway connecting Bundaberg and Childers.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey speaks to the media with Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith.

Dozens of workers are onsite as work progresses on a key Isis Hwy intersection as part of a more than $40m project.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey visited the site of the Isis Hwy and Voss Rd upgrade on Tuesday and said the work would deliver much-needed safety improvements.

The upgrade involves installing dedicated right and left-turn provisions as well as a new intersection light.

Work on the upgraded intersection started on February 6, 2023, and was expected to be completed by late March 2023.

The upgrade is part of the state government’s High Risk Roads Initiative, from which $41.8m is directed to carry out various safety improvements on the Isis Hwy between Bundaberg and Childers.

Work on the Voss Rd intersection is expected to be completed in late March, 2023.

Mr Bailey said the upgrades were necessary to improve the safety for drivers using the road as the main route between Bundaberg and the Bruce Hwy.

“We know the Bruce Hwy is a real artery in terms of the Queensland economy,” Mr Bailey said.

“The Isis Highway is a really key road for people in Bundy to get to the Bruce (Highway), and it (doesn’t have) a great safety record.”

Other improvements for the intersection are intended to increase the margin of error for drivers, including widening the road and installing run-off areas and safety barriers.

Mr Bailey said the Isis Hwy upgrade is creating “a nice pipeline of local jobs” for locals.

Approximately 50 jobs have been created for the current intersection works, with around 160 jobs expected to be created from the entire Isis Hwy upgrade project.

The intersection upgrade includes dedicated right and left-turn lanes and widening the road.

In response to reports of public complaints about disruptions to traffic from the roadworks on the Isis and Bruce Highway, Mr Bailey encouraged the public to endure “a little bit of short term pain for medium to long term gain”.

“Everyone wants to see the Bruce Hwy upgraded, but no one wants to get slowed down by the upgrade,” Mr Bailey said.

“So you know, it’s just one of those paradoxes.

“I just say to people, while they know that there are some upgrades underway, please leave yourself a little bit more time to make sure your stress on the road is reduced right down.”

The Voss Rd intersection upgrade follows an upgrade to the Foleys Rd intersection which was completed in early 2022.

The Isis Highway upgrade began with the installation of a wide centre line along about 17km of Isis Highway between Philips Rd and Hapsburg Rd intersections in 2021.

Originally published as Minister Mark Bailey visits Voss Rd, Isis Hwy intersection upgrade site