Latest News, Traffic Management and Safety

Australian-first design on Bruce Highway

A ground-breaking new interchange design to improve traffic management will be a major part of a $929.3 million upgrade to a section of Queensland’s Bruce Highway, with the contract recently awarded for the project.

A ground-breaking new interchange design to improve traffic management will be a major part of a $929.3 million upgrade to a section of Queensland’s Bruce Highway, with the contract recently awarded for the project.A ground-breaking new interchange design to improve traffic management will be a major part of a $929.3 million upgrade to a section of Queensland’s Bruce Highway, with the contract recently awarded for the project.

A Fulton Hogan Seymour Whyte joint venture will undertake the upgrade works between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway on the Bruce Highway, which includes a diverging diamond interchange road design.

“This project involves widening the highway to six lanes, as well a major upgrade to the Sunshine Motorway interchange and reconfiguring the Caloundra Road Interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester in a statement.

“This intersection zone sees the most crashes on the 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.”

Queensland Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey also said the upgrade to the Bruce Highway had also seen community feedback incorporated into the design layout.

“After personally meeting with community members last year, we have also included a southbound exit from the highway to Pignata Road,” said Mr. Bailey.

“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.”

Preliminary construction is anticipated to start by the end of 2016, with major construction expected to start in mid-2017 and be completed in 2020, weather permitting.

The Australian Government is providing $743.4 million to the project, with the Queensland Government committing $185.9 million.

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend