Work is now complete for more than $39 million worth of safety upgrades along the Bruce Highway between The Leap and Careys Creek.
As part of the project, protected turn lanes and improved lighting have been installed at nine highway intersections, including at intersections with Maraju-Yakapari Road / Yakapari-Seaforth Road, Tweedies Road, Gumellis Road, Pyms Road, McGills Road, Watts Road, Geeburga-Buthurra Road, and, Buthurra Station Road.
A wide centre line treatment to reduce the risk of head-on collisions and fitting roadside barriers along the stretch were also part of the project. The town entry points at Farleigh, The Leap and Kuttabul have received treatments including the installation of signage and road markings to reduce vehicles speeding through rural towns.
The projects, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, were delivered as part of the 15-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Program – a $13 billion program of works to improve safety, flood resilience and capacity from Brisbane to Cairns.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Australian Government was continuing to make Queensland roads safer and more efficient for motorists.
“This work has greatly improved driver safety, freight efficiency and heavy vehicle management on a key transport route along our national highway,” the Minister said.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the projects were vital for the community.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering these key upgrades on the Bruce Highway as Queensland’s busiest highway and a vital connector for communities across the state,” Minister Bailey said.
Six more projects are currently underway in the Mackay-Whitsunday district, as part of the multi-billion dollar Bruce Highway Upgrade program.
Both governments contributed $36.96 million to the Hampden to Kuttabul, rehabilitate and widen project on an 80:20 split.
The Australian Government contributed a further $1.1 million through the Black Spots, Rest Areas and Safety Upgrades program and an additional $1.07 million for extending the northbound Palm Tree Creek overtaking lane through the Bruce Highway – Overtaking Lanes Package.
For more information on Bruce Highway upgrades across Mackay and the Whitsundays, click here.
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