Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to face questions over state of the Bruce Highway

The Bruce Highway could be closed for days, if not weeks, following an explosive fatal truck crash sparking urgent pleas for the “patched” road to be fixed once and for all.

• As it happened: Bruce blown up

There are concerns the Bruce Highway may not reopen for a significant period of time, with Transport and Main Roads investigators yet to gain access to the crash site to determine the extent of damage to the major road and any temporary reopening solutions.

The notorious stretch of the Bruce was turned into a rubble-strewn war zone on Friday after a chemical truck blew up in a horror fatal crash.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with Premier Steven Miles this morning following the tragic explosion, but is yet to provide Queensland with a real timeline on when the major road will be finished, placing onus on the state.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to the Bruce Highway funding. Picture Nikki Short

The Prime Minister visited Rockhampton this morning, where he said it was the state’s job to fix the immediate issues affecting the highway following the crash.

“I had a discussion this morning with Steven Miles, the Premier of Queensland, because it’s state government have public works, rather than the federal government to fix the immediate issues,” he said.

“I’m very conscious of the need to do more, I want to work with the Queensland Government to make sure that we do do more and we’ll continue to have more to say, including the asking of projects being brought forward to be accelerated.

“The Queensland Government is, of course, in the best position to identify those priority projects.”

Federal Member for Flynn Colin Boyce said “a total reassessment of the importance of that highway” is needed.

“It’s all very well for the Prime Minister to say that there is funding, there’s always funding for a national highway route around Australia, however, there needs to be a total reassessment of the importance of that highway,” Mr Boyce said.

“A reassessment is needed in respect to the traffic, Central Queensland, the economy and the amount of money that is generated in terms of produce and transport and trucks and so forth.”

In advocating for change, Mr Boyce called for extra lanes, additional rest areas, and an improvement of the standard of repair works.

Aerial vision of the aftermath of the Bruce Highway crash. Picture: QPS

“There needs to be significant passing lanes made up and down the highway,” he said.

“There needs to be more rest areas made along the highway for the trucks so that they can take their breaks, the design of the highway doesn’t allow for trucks to actually get off the road.

“And with the greatest respect to the people that patch and repair the road, there needs to be a different standard as to the way they do that because it’s just simply not adequate.

“We’ve got patches on the patches, we see potholes fixed, and then it’s only a matter before the next rainy day, and the potholes are back again.

“The standards that they repair these major arterial routes needs to be reassessed and brought to a better state.”

With 29 fatalities along the stretch of the Bruce Highway through his electorate, Mr Boyce said “we can do better”.

“Any fatality is just simply not acceptable, it’s that simple - we can do better,” he said.

“We can definitely do something about the state of the road, and that needs to be reassessed and significant funding put towards that road from both state and federal governments.

“There’s a saying in Central Queensland, everybody drives on the left hand side of the road, but we drive on what’s left of the road and that’s the fact.”

The highway is set to be closed until Monday at the earliest, however the Mayor of Gladstone Matt Burnett has hinted it could be out of action for even longer.

Police are expected to wrap up their investigation today, before handing the site over to the Department of Mines this afternoon.

Transport and Main Roads staff are not expected to gain access to the site until tomorrow.

It means closures could stretch well beyond Monday, with speculation the road could be cut off for days, possibly weeks.

“Upon gaining access to the site, TMR will commence site clean-up, undertake a site inspection, and begin assessments of road infrastructure including structures,” a TMR spokesman said.

It prompted calls for funding to be prioritised to fix the entire route.

The tragedy just after 5am on Friday at Bororen was one of three fatal crashes on the highway this week alone - including a man in his 50s who died less than two hours later northwest of Rockhampton, and a truckie who died after an horrific crash at Miriam Vale on Tuesday.

According to Google Maps, the travel time from Brisbane to Rockhampton by road is about eight and a half hours in a route that cuts through Monto and Biloela.

For Gladstone residents who want to visit Agnes Waters/1770, the Light Vehicles route will take nearly seven hours.

Bruce Highway detours in place after the crash at Bororen.

Mr Burnett took to social media on Saturday morning with an update on the condition of the highway..

“Queensland Police are expected to hand over the site to the Department of Transport and Main Roads following an investigation by the Department of Mines later this afternoon, if not tomorrow,” his post read.

“Once TMR take back control, the road and infrastructure will be assessed. Depending on the extent of the damage the highway could be open in a few days with a single lane while repairs take place.

“If the culvert (close by the explosion area) is significantly damaged a side track will need to be established and the highway could be closed for a significant time.”

Environment Minister Leanne Linard on Saturday said the Bruce Highway was still expected to remain shut over the weekend, according to the latest police and TMR briefing.

“It is looking like the whole weekend, it will be closed,” she said.

“There’ll be updated information as we progress through the weekend, police will be conducting their investigation.

“It’s very important to identify why this crash occurred, and we’ll be waiting for the results of that investigation.”

Leanne Linard MP said it was unclear when the Bruce would reopen. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Linard was unable to update the public on what the short or long term impacts would be to rail services and road closures.

“I understand they have removed the exclusion zone that was surrounding the crash and I just urge everyone who’s driving on the road to police do so safely, but there will be diversions in place until post the weekend,” she said.

Mr Albanese is expected to visit Queensland today, and will likely face a barrage of questions over Bruce Highway funding.

Ms Linard said the state government would continue to lobby for the return of the 80-20 funding split.

“I know that our premier has been very, very strong in regard to his conversations with the federal government and the Prime Minister, that we need to work together and keep investing in this road to keep Queensland moving,” she said.

“The fair split, in our view in Queensland, is what it always has been, and that’s 80-20.”

The spate of deaths in the week come after Mr Albanese hinted at The Courier-Mail’s Bush Summit of a long-term multibillion-dollar commitment to “finish” the highway.

On Friday in response to the crash, Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said road safety

Smoke after the collision between a ute and a truck carrying ammonium nitrate. Picture: Queensland Police

on the Bruce Highway was fundamental, and was going to take a collective response to reduce the road toll.

“We’re working closely with the Queensland Government and I have asked that they bring forward proposals to accelerate safety works, with the Commonwealth funding commitments made as well as future priorities for the budget process,” she said.

“Road funding is not just about the quantity of the investment, it’s also about making targeted investments to ensure maximum effectiveness, and we’re getting this done.

“There is more to be done, and we will continue to work with the Queensland Government and the community on areas they deem a priority to create a better Bruce Highway.”

Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to face questions over state of the Bruce Highway