The $1.162 billion Gympie Bypass is weeks away from completion, with confirmation that it’s all track to be finished in October 2024.
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm, said local construction crews were determined to take advantage of the drier months and good construction conditions to have the bypass open to the public by October this year.
“This is the culmination of 15 years’ worth of construction on the 62-kilometre Bruce Highway upgrade, and it’s a privilege to celebrate this massive achievement,” Chisholm added.
“Not only will this stretch of highway improve safety, flood resilience and capacity for motorists, it will also meet the transport needs of the Gympie and Sunshine Coast communities well into the future.”
The project has involved constructing a new 26-kilometre, four-lane divided highway between the existing Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, just south of Gympie, and Curra.
It is the final section of a 62-kilometre, $2.549 billion program of works to upgrade the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Curra.
Construction of the overall Cooroy to Curra program began in September 2009.
“This stretch of highway will improve safety, flood resilience and capacity for motorists as well as meeting the transport needs of the Gympie and Sunshine Coast communities well into the future,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King.
“We know how important continued investment in major infrastructure upgrades is, and that’s why in this year’s Federal Budget we allocated a further $467 million towards several projects along the Bruce Highway like the Gympie Bypass to ensure they get delivered for Queenslanders.”
The $1.162 billion Gympie Bypass is jointly funded, with the Australian Government committing $929.6 million and the Queensland Government contributing $232.4 million.