William Scott
The Federal Government is delivering an additional $7.2 billion to upgrade and fix the Bruce Highway in Queensland.
The historic funding is the single largest investment ever into the Bruce Highway and brings the Federal Government’s total outlay for the 1,673km road to more than $17 billion.
The Queensland 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 Bruce Highway. The new funding from the Federal Government will be used to bring the highway up to this rating.
Key stakeholders, including RACQ, Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF), Queensland Trucking Association (QTA), and Queensland Tourism Industry Council along with everyday Queenslanders have called for more investment and a long-term plan to fix the Bruce 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 Bruce 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.
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.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, said, “I’ve driven the Bruce Highway many times, and I know the critical role it plays for Queenslanders, tourists and freight.
“Today’s announcement takes the total investment in the Bruce Highway to more than $17 billion.
“Queensland deserves a long-term plan, and that is what my government is delivering.
“We’re getting on with building a better future for all Australians.”
Treasurer of Australia, Jim Chalmers, said, “We backed the Bruce with billions in the Budget and now we are investing billions more in the Highway that means so much to our regional and national economies.
“As a Queenslander I know how important the Bruce is to our state, from the south east corner to the tropical far north and everywhere in between.
“This is all about transporting people, goods and opportunities, and linking and strengthening local communities and economies right around regional Queensland.
“As Treasurer and as a Queenslander I’m especially proud of the billions we’ve found to back the Bruce.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said, “Almost half the Bruce 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.
“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.”
