The bridge deck units for the last two bridges on the Cooroy to Curra – Section C of Queensland’s Bruce Highway upgrade are now being installed.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the continuing project would link with Sections B and A, which was fully opened to traffic in recent weeks.
“This is a project that will change lives and save lives when it is completed. Upgrading the Bruce Highway is a priority project of the Australian Government’s infrastructure roll out, and work on these two bridges signals great progress on the Section C works,” Mr. Chester said.
“Further north, we will be investing $11.2 million to improve safety at the intersection of the Bruce and Wide Bay Highways, and $30.4 million to upgrade the Tinana interchange. This is part of the Australian and Queensland Government’s 10-year $8.5 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Programme, with the Australian Government committing to provide funding of up to $6.7 billion.”
Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said all bridge works on the project would be completed by the second half of the year, with the entire project on track for completion in early 2018, weather permitting.
“Section C will see 10.5 kilometres of new four-lane divided highway built between Traveston and Woondum and progress to date has been outstanding. Works were originally scheduled for completion mid-2018, but this date has been brought forward,” Mr. Bailey said.
“172 girders have been used as supports for other bridges on the project, which can be up to 35 metres long and weigh 85 tonnes. Over the next week, we’ll see even more activity, with eighteen deck units being delivered each day.”
The $384.2 million Bruce Highway – Cooroy to Curra – Section C project is jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $307.4 million and the Queensland Government $76.8 million.