22 new projects to accelerate Bruce Highway safety boost

• 22 new Bruce Highway projects announced to deliver critical safety upgrades between Gympie and Cairns as part of the next stage of improvements.
• This half-billion-dollar package forms part of the historic $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.
• Builds on the success of the first 16 projects, which are complete, under construction or due to start this month.
• The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments are working together to deliver a safer, more reliable Bruce Highway for Queensland’s future.

The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments have unveiled the next 22 safety upgrades to form part of the historic $9 billion investment into the Bruce Highway, up the spine of Queensland.

More than $500 million has been allocated for the 22 projects, that will deliver road safety upgrades along high-risk sections of the Bruce Highway between Gympie and Cairns, as part of the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.

High-impact safety projects will help prevent run-off-road and head-on collisions, including:

• 19 projects delivering 93-kilometres of stronger, more resilient road surface, to boost skid resistance and improved vehicle stability, particularly in wet weather.
• 3 projects to deliver 13-kilometres of wide centre line treatment with road widening and audio tactile line marking, to create more distance between opposing directions of traffic, reducing the risk of head-on collisions by up to 60 per cent on high-volume rural roads.

Work has already begun on the next round of projects and will continue next year, building on the safety benefits from the first round of 16 priority projects, announced in March.

Of those 16 priority projects from the early works package, six are already complete with eight under construction and the remaining two to commence this month.

The Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program will continue to boost safety of the Bruce Highway, with additional rounds of projects to be announced as part of the $9 billion program.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King said the Australian Government was deeply committed to improving road safety.

“The Albanese Government has made the biggest ever investment in the Bruce Highway because we want to ensure it is safer for all Queenslanders,” Minister King said.

“With significant progress already made in delivering the $300 million early works package this next wave of work will ensure these priority safety improvements continue to roll out on the Bruce Highway.

“This work is also an important step towards reducing closures due to crashes and improving network reliability along the Bruce.”

Queensland Minster for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg said safety along the Bruce was receiving a major boost under the landmark $9 billion program. 

“We are delivering a major boost to safety along the Bruce with rubber hitting the road on another 22 projects,” Minister Mickelberg said.

“We’re delivering the critical safety upgrades needed between Gympie and Cairns, to service the spine of our State. 

“Queenslanders are starting to see the benefits as we accelerate these upgrades, and we’ll continue to drive forward delivering them across the regions.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Minister King – Kallista Kaval 0474 048 152

Minister Mickelberg – Kate Leonard-Jones 0484 620 899

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