The Australian Government will provide an additional $7.2 billion to upgrade and fix the Bruce Highway in Queensland, to bring it up to a minimum three-star safety rating.
This funding is the single largest investment into the Bruce Highway and brings the Australian Government’s total outlay for the 1,673 kilometre road to more than $17 billion.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has estimated $9 billion will achieve a minimum of three out of five-star safety rating for the entirety of the highway.
Key stakeholders, along with everyday Queenslanders have called for more investment and a long-term plan to fix the highway.
The Bruce Highway has an average Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) crash rate three to five times higher than any major highway in New South Wales and Victoria.
As the major north-south corridor which connects Brisbane to the regional centres of Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, the highway is critical to the movement of passengers, freight and tourists across the state – supporting around 62 per cent of the population in Queensland.
The new safety package will fast-track critical projects along the whole corridor and will initially focus on priority sections north of Gympie that have been identified by stakeholders due to their higher than average crash rates.
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Priority sections include Maryborough to Benaraby, Rockhampton to St Lawrence, Bowen to Townsville and Ingham to Innisfail.
Projects within the package may include installing safety barriers, wide centre lines and audio tactile line marking; constructing wider shoulders; increasing run off areas, overtaking lanes and rest areas; and improving intersections, signage, and sight lines.
There will also be a focus on resealing and rehabilitating road surfaces for resilience to “Build Back Better”, thereby mitigating damage from increasing weather events.
The identification and prioritisation of projects funded under the package will be informed in consultation with the Queensland Government and the Bruce Highway Advisory Council, with works commencing in 2025.
Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government said almost half of the Bruce Highway has a two star safety rating and that’s not good enough.
“This historic investment answers the call of Queenslanders to bring the Bruce up to a three star safety rating so Australians stop losing their loved ones on this road,” King says.
“We are providing a significant and long-term commitment to fixing the Bruce, and I call on the Queensland Government to partner with us to get this done.”
For more information, www.tmr.qld.gov.au