More than $39 million worth of safety upgrades along the Bruce Highway have been completed between The Leap and Careys Creek.
The jointly funded projects were delivered as 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.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said “town entry treatments at Farleigh, The Leap and Kuttabul were also installed to remind drivers to slow down when they enter these communities.”
“Six more projects are currently underway in the Mackay-Whitsunday district, as part of the multi-billion dollar Bruce Highway Upgrade program,” Bailey said.
Protected turn lanes and improved lighting were installed at the highway intersections with:
- Maraju-Yakapari Road / Yakapari-Seaforth Road
- Tweedies Road
- Gumellis Road
- Pyms Road
- McGills Road
- Watts Road
- Geeburga-Buthurra Road, and
- Buthurra Station Road.
Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said he was “thrilled to see another set of works completed along the Bruce Highway, improving safety and access for locals, freight and visitors in time for the holiday season and travel.”
“We are continuing to roll out projects like this right across Queensland under our $110 billion nationwide infrastructure investment pipeline, which is supporting jobs and economic stimulus while getting people home sooner and safer,” Christensen said.
Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said the investment in the region contributed to Queensland’s strong economic recovery.
“Our investment in the Bruce is key to North Queensland’s continued economic development, providing more employment opportunities and a safer national highway as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan,” Gilbert said.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Australian Government is continuing to make Queensland roads safer and more efficient for motorists.
“The project installed a wide centre line treatment to reduce the risk of head-on collisions, fitted roadside barriers and upgraded nine intersections along this stretch,” Joyce said.
Both governments contributed $36.96 million to the Hampden to Kuttabul, rehabilitate and widen project on an 80:20 split.
The Australian Government contributed a further $1.1 million through the Black Spots, Rest Areas and Safety Upgrades program and an additional $1.07 million for extending the northbound Palm Tree Creek overtaking lane through the Bruce Highway – Overtaking Lanes Package
More information on Bruce Highway upgrades across Mackay and the Whitsundays, can be found here.