More Bruce Highway safety upgrades get underway in QLD

Works to improve Queensland’s Bruce Highway continue as more safety upgrades are set to get underway between Ten Mile Creek at Proserpine and Yeates Creek at Bowen. 

The jointly funded $44 million project is being delivered as part of the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program (BHUP). 

“This is also the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s record $110 billion infrastructure investment plan in action, helping to connect communities and improve safety, while creating jobs and supporting our economic recovery. 

“The Federal Government is investing over $10 billion in a safer, smoother and more reliable Bruce Highway. This will benefit Queenslanders, from Brisbane to Cairns, on this key north-south route,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said. 

This multi-million-dollar project is just one of several developments being delivered between Cairns and Caboolture, funded through the $13 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program. 

“We're making excellent progress on the pipeline of projects up and down the Bruce Highway, with 154 projects in delivery, including 48 under construction right now. 

“That pipeline gives local workers and businesses certainty that funding will continue to flow into their local economies and is an important part of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan,” Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

The project will upgrade approximately 13 kilometres of the Bruce Highway between Ten Mile Creek and Yeates Creek. 

Scope of works will include: 

• Road widening to accommodate wide centre line treatments and provide additional separation between oncoming vehicles 
• Audio tactile line marking ti warn road users they are about to leave the road 
• Removing roadside hazards so that any vehicles that fo leave the road are given opportunity to recover 
• Intersection upgrades at: 
  • Gordon Glen Road 
  • Bridsons Road 
  • Jokheim Road 
  • Eden Lassie Road 

“The project will widen the highway to install wide centre-line treatments, reducing the potential for head-on collisions. 

“This investment will also offer long-term economic benefits and important construction jobs in the short term,” Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said. 

Project map (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

The contract to deliver the safety upgrades has been awarded to BMD Construction Pty Ltd. 

The $44 million upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments, each contributing $35.2 million and $8.8 million respectively. 

“The safety projects are funded under the Palaszczuk Government’s record $27.5 billion roads and transport investment over four years, which is creating 24,000 jobs, and helping to drive Queensland’s economic recovery. 

“This investment includes $1.14 billion allocated specifically to the Mackay/Whitsunday District, estimated to support around 1,060 direct jobs. 

“Some of the key projects being delivered across the Mackay/Whitsunday District include the $120 million Mackay Northern Access Upgrade, $39 million Bruce Highway safety upgrade between Mackay and Proserpine, and $37 million Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road duplication and intersection upgrades,” Queensland Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development