Call for naming new Bruce Highway infrastructure

Concept design courtesy of Queensland Government

Community members can now submit ideas for naming new infrastructure being built for the $481 million Bruce Highway upgrade south of Cairns.

The selected names will be given to new bridges, overpasses and roads built as part of the 10.5-kilometre duplication of the highway between Edmonton and Gordonvale.

Member for Mulgrave and Speaker of the Queensland Parliament Curtis Pitt said suggestions could be Indigenous, fauna or flora species, a person, sporting or historical events linked to the area.

“We’re asking for names with a special connection to the local area that also have significance for our community,” Mr Pitt said.

“This is a unique opportunity to formally recognise the character and characters in our community by establishing new local landmarks in their name.”

The naming initiative comes as the final detailed design for the massive highway overhaul was released.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the project was one of several major road upgrades supporting hundreds of local jobs in the Cairns region.

“We’re on track to finish the Smithfield Bypass and the Bruce Highway upgrades just south of the CBD this year, but the Edmonton to Gordonvale upgrade is one of the largest road projects in the state right now,” Mr Bailey said.

To ensure the broader community is involved in the naming process, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has implemented a formal process for submissions to name the infrastructure on the E2G project.

A naming committee made up of local community members will review the nominations and make recommendations to the Queensland Government.

The $481 million Edmonton and Gordonvale project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis.

The project is 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.

Project completion is expected mid-2023.

Criteria for naming submissions and nomination forms are available here.