Contract awarded for $929.3m Bruce Hwy Caloundra Rd-Sunshine Motorway upgrade
The contract for the $929.3 million Bruce Highway upgrade – between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway – has been awarded. Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester together with Queensland Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey recently announced that a Fulton Hogan Seymour Whyte Joint Venture is the winning contractor for the project.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government who has committed $743.4 million and $185.9 million accordingly.
This upgrade project will help reduce the congestion and travel time for all motorists going through Bruce Highway. Upgrade works will include widening the road to six lanes as well as upgrading Sunshine Motorway interchange and reconfiguring the Caloundra Road Interchange into a Diverging Diamond Interchange.
“This intersection zone sees the most crashes on Bruce Highway and it urgently needs a new approach to traffic management for the roughly 60,000 vehicles that use it every day.
“The Diverging Diamond Interchange design is a first for Australia, and could be used in future projects across the country. It has been used with great success in the US since 2009 and will improve safety for traffic moving between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra Road,” Minister Chester said.
Source: QLD Government Department of Transport and Main Roads
Community feedback has been incorporated into the design layout for this project according to Minister Bailey. He said that at least 694 direct jobs will be created for the entire duration of the project. The design also includes a southbound exit from the highway to Pignata Road and this was based on what the community members have asked for.
“This is a big win for the community as it will create safe and direct access to local businesses and homes, as well as a future connection to development in Palmview.
“A new service road will also be built on the western side of the Bruce Highway between Steve Irwin Way and Tanawha Tourist Drive.
“The design will also significantly reduce the impact to the Beerwah State Forest. This means the Caloundra Road interchange will be contained to the east of the Mooloolah cemetery and will no longer impact environmentally sensitive areas to the west,” Minister Bailey said.
Early works is expected to commence by the end of 2016 and major construction to begin by mid-2017. Completion is expected by 2020 if the weather condition permits it.
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