Work to improve safety and efficiency along the Bruce Highway on the Sunshine Coast, the region’s largest ever infrastructure project, is now complete.
The $932 million project has seen the Bruce Highway upgraded to six lanes between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway including major upgrades to both interchanges and a new two-way service road for local traffic between Steve Irwin Way and Tanawha Tourist Drive.
Widening the lanes is set to improve the safety, capacity, traffic flow and road access for the highway connection. The upgrade will also improve the efficiency of the network and bolster the flood immunity of the section.
The project also includes the construction of a new free-flowing, grade-separated ramps replacing the existing intersection on the old Bruce Highway northbound exit ramp to the Sunshine Motorway near Wilson Road.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project created 680 jobs and expanded this stretch of the Bruce Highway from four-lanes to six.
“These projects will transform the Bruce Highway, getting locals home faster, and giving tourists more time to enjoy their holidays on the beautiful Sunshine Coast,” she said. “From Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway, the Bruce is now three lanes each way at 110km/h, cutting travel times.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that surrounding constructions for the Bruce Highway will support the states infrastructure.
“Down the road, the $662.5 million Bruce Highway, Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way upgrade is well underway, supporting an estimated 660 direct jobs over the life of the project,” Bailey said.
“Back towards Brisbane, the Deception Bay Road Interchange – a $163.3 million Bruce Highway Upgrade, supporting 270 direct jobs, is progressing well.”
State Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said that the expected growth within the Sunshine Coast region was also a factor in delivering the upgrade works.
“All of this work will build a better Bruce, unlock the Maroochydore business hub, and support this rapidly growing community,” Hunt said. “As part of this project we’ve delivered more than nine kilometres of new active transport infrastructure for people walking and riding bikes.”
The $932 million project was jointly funded on an 80:20 basis with the Australian Government contributing $745.6 million and the Queensland Government providing $186.4 million.
This project is part of the 15-year, Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, a $13 billion program of works to improve safety, flood resilience and capacity along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns.
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