New details on opening of new Bruce Hwy Gympie Bypass

After four years, 42 bridges and 26km, the countdown is on to the grand opening of the billion-dollar final section of the Cooroy to Curra Bruce Hwy Bypass of Gympie.

The exact date of the opening of the Gympie Bypass continues to be elusive, but it is likely to be sooner rather than later with workers now dotting “i”s and crossing “t”s on the project.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said Thursday the $1 billion project was due for completion in “late 2024” if the weather holds, about four years after work started.

The bulk of that work is now done though, with workers on the 26km road stretching from south of Glanmire to Curra continuing now with “laying pavement, line marking, installing lighting and other finishing works”.

“TMR will continue to keep the public informed regarding the progress of this project, and look to provide more precise timing for completion as the construction program becomes more certain,” the spokesman said.

The exact date of the grand opening of the new Gympie Bypass continues to elusive, but it is likely to be sooner rather than later with workers now dotting “i”s and crossing “t”s on the project.

“The Gympie Bypass is being constructed in two major construction contracts between Woondum and Curra, and traffic will not be switched onto the new Bypass until both contracts are completed.”

The Bypass will transform the city once opened, with more than 11,000 cars expected to be rerouted from the centre of town daily once it opens.

Construction of the Bypass included the installation of 730 bridge girders and deck units, and the construction of 42 bridges in 23 locations spanning rail lines, waterways, and roads.

Two of the bridges are more than 250m long.

The largest girder installed on the Bypass weighed 102.5 tonnes, and was 38m long.

Originally published as New details on opening of new Bruce Hwy Gympie Bypass