State pays $603m to spruce up Bruce
MORE overtaking lanes, safer intersections and floodproofing along the Bruce Highway are part of a $603 million spend on Queensland’s main traffic corridor north and south of Townsville this year.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the State Government knew the Bruce Highway was the “lifeblood” of the Townsville region.
“As the national highway linking the north with the far north and the southeast, the Palaszczuk Government recognises the absolute importance of a safe and efficient Bruce Highway to Townsville and its economy,” he said.
“Inevitably road works will mean some short-term inconvenience for motorists but will deliver long-term gain with improved safety, flood resilience and better connectivity for the north.”
This year south of Townsville at Mailman Rd to Killymoon Creek, the State Government will widen the road and add overtaking lanes.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the $44 million project, jointly funded by the Federal Government, would reduce the risk of collisions.
“More overtaking lanes are also being added to improve safety and the movement of freight on the Bruce Highway,” he said.
The upgrade is expected to be completed by late 2020, weather permitting.
One of the biggest projects is the $514 million Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade project.
Before the monsoon weather event, work was expected to begin in March on the project and will include bridge replacements, overpasses and intersection upgrades.
“This important project will boost the Bruce Highway’s flood resilience and the impact on local economies during extreme weather events,” Mr Harper said.
“Work crews are expected to be onsite until mid-2021 across 34km of the Bruce Highway between Ayr and Townsville while supporting local jobs where they’re needed most.”
To the north of Townsville, the highway will be upgraded at Bluewater.
Townsville MP Scott Stewart said work would start in coming months on $20.4 million of upgrades to the Bruce Highway at Bluewater.
The road will be widened between Deep and Bluewater creeks and between Two Mile and Sleeper Log creeks.
“To improve safety the Palaszczuk Government will also be installing a wider centre line treatment to deliver better separation between north and southbound highway users,” Mr Stewart said.
“We’ll also be building safer intersections at Bluewater Station Road, Forestry Road and Toolakea Beach Road, and a new southbound overtaking lane between Two Mile and Sleeper Log creeks.
“Work on the Bluewater safety improvements is expected to finish late next year, weather permitting.”
Work to build safety improvement near Paluma State Forest at Bambaroo will begin this year.
Mr Stewart said the $24.42 million project would see the Bruce Highway widened and a new, expanded centre line treatment.
Other intersections north of Townsville to be upgraded from late this year include Catastis Rd, Scrubview Rd, Jourama Falls Rd and Yuruga Rd.
Mr Stewart said overtaking lanes on a new, separated section of highway would be installed from Little Gin to Water View creeks
“Construction for this package of safety improvements on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville is expected to wrap up in early 2021, weather permitting,” he said.
Mr Stewart said the upgrades on the highway to the north and south of Townsville were expected to support more than 600 local jobs, which was a welcome investment not only in the skills of North Queenslanders, but also road safety.
THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT WILL BOOST THE BRUCE HIGHWAY’S FLOOD RESILIENCE AND THE IMPACT ON LOCAL ECONOMIES DURING EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS. AARON HARPER