Tenders called for $12m worth of safety upgrades on QLD Bruce Highway

Tenders are called for more safety works on a 4.7-kilometre stretch on the Bruce Highway at Chatsworth - north of Gympie - in Queensland. The $12 million project is set to provide safer travel and improve traffic conditions along the route.

“Dedicated turn lanes, wide centreline treatments, pavement widening and guard rails will reduce the chance of rear-end crashes and minimise the severity of any run-off-road crashes along this section,” Deputy Prime Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said.

According to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey, this project is a win for motorists using the Bruce Highway, with a boost in safety and a reduce in vehicle operating costs once the upgrade is completed.

“The upgrade of the road surface and several intersections will streamline highway traffic, improving efficiency and safety.

“The project team will work with the successful contractor to ensure any impacts on the travelling public are kept to a minimum during construction,” Mr Bailey said.

Minister Bailey added that the Bruce Highway is the State’s major north to south road corridor that is utilised by tourists, transport and freight industries, and this call for tenders is ‘great progress’ towards a safer Bruce Highway for all road users.

This multi-million dollar upgrade will include:

• Building a dedicated right turn lane at the Fleming Road intersection
• Building dedicated left and right turn lanes at the McCullough / Benson roads intersection
• Building a dedicated right turn lane at Robert Road intersection
• Building dedicated right and left turn lanes at the Vantage Road intersection, an offset from the through-lane in order to improve visibility for motorists entering the highway
• Building dedicated right and left turn lanes at the access near Irvine Road, closing the most northern access to the service road - near Reynolds Road - and restricting movements at the most southern access to left-out only
• Building a dedicated right turn lane on the highway to Reynolds Road at the Reynolds / Rammutt Road intersection
• Building dedicated right and left turn lanes at the Fishermans Pocket Road intersection
• Completing minor modifications to meet current design standards, as part of the road widening works at Frasers Road and Fritz Road intersections

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said that the new asphalt will help improve the longevity of this stretch of road as well as minimise future maintenance costs for vehicles, especially for freight operators.

“Safer roads save lives. I travel in and around these intersections daily and I know how dangerous they can be.

“This new investment will make these intersections safer for all road users and I look forward to the positive difference they will make both to people who live in Gympie and those who travel through,” Mr O’Brien said.

Works on this upgrade is expected to commence later in 2018 and, weather permitting, completed by early 2019.

This safety upgrade is part of the $1.4 billion Bruce Highway Safety Package that is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments, each contributing $831 million and $208 million respectively.

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Source: Queensland Government