New traffic switch onto Bruce Highway's Cattle Creek Bridge

Improved flood immunity on the Bruce Highway is one step closer, with traffic between Townsville and Ingham recently switched onto the new Cattle Creek Bridge.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said the bridge, located about 10 kilometres south of Ingham, would improve freight connectivity, travel reliability and community access to essential services.

“Around Australia, the Federal Government is investing in our roads – especially country roads – to ensure people can get home sooner and safer, as well as providing a boost to productivity,” Mr McCormack said.

“Spanning the Cattle Creek floodplain area, the new 644-metre-long Cattle Creek Bridge is wider and higher than the old bridge, thereby improving safety for passing vehicles.”

Mr McCormack said an average of 207 jobs would be supported over the life of the Cattle and Frances Creek Upgrade project, which was on track to be completed late this year.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the upgrades would also help address the impact of flooding.

“The new Cattle Creek Bridge, built to a Q100 flood immunity, will substantially reduce closures of the highway during the wet season,” Mr Bailey said.

“To further reduce the impact of flooding, approximately 5.8 kilometres of highway is also being raised.

“This upgrade is expected to reduce the average annual Bruce Highway road closure time through the area from 29 to 3.5 hours.

“The bridge is complete, with efforts now focused on the remaining works including road widening, drainage and landscaping.”

The Cattle and Frances Creeks Upgrade project is just one part of the $10 billion Australian Government investment to the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.

The new Frances Creek Bridge was opened to traffic in June 2018, and the overall project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

The $118.9 million Cattle and Frances Creeks Upgrade project is jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing up to $95.1 million, and the Queensland Government contributing a further $23.8 million.

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Toby Walker - 0439 347 875