Queensland’s largest road infrastructure program is entering a new phase, with Bruce Highway upgrades gathering momentum through a wave of completed projects, new construction activity and the release of 52 additional design and construction packages.
The latest milestones mark a significant expansion of the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under an 80:20 funding arrangement.
From Gympie to Cairns, the program is reshaping one of Australia’s most important freight corridors through safety upgrades, pavement strengthening, overtaking lanes, intersection improvements and flood resilience works.
What is happening across the Bruce Highway upgrades program?
The scale of activity along the Bruce Highway continues to grow.
Eleven projects have now been completed, while work is continuing on a further 46 projects across the corridor. Another 10 projects are commencing, with almost 60 additional projects scheduled to begin progressively from 2026.
A further 52 tenders will soon be released, including 40 construction packages and 12 design packages.
These projects will deliver more than 200 kilometres of wide centre-line treatments, 100 kilometres of pavement strengthening, five new overtaking lanes, 13 intersection upgrades, two rest areas and three bridge replacements in Far North Queensland.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the latest tender releases demonstrated the program’s growing momentum.
“The Albanese Government is committed to improving safety on the Bruce Highway, and these latest tenders represent another significant step in delivering upgrades that will help save lives and support regional communities and industries,” King said.
Which projects have recently been completed?
Among the latest milestones is the completion of safety upgrades at Bauple, one of the first projects to commence under the program.
The works included road widening, dedicated turning lanes at Stratford Road and Brooks Road, and additional widening between Chapmans Road and Stratford Road to improve traffic flow and reduce crash risks.
Flood resilience works near Tully have also been completed between Dallachy Road and south of Dean Road.
The upgrades have improved flood immunity along the corridor, with modelling indicating the improvements will reduce average annual flood disruption by approximately 40 per cent.
The soon-to-open Curra Rest Area has also become one of the first visible projects delivered under the broader Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.
Why is the Farleigh Habana Road intersection being upgraded?
One of the highest-profile projects emerging from the next wave of Bruce Highway upgrades is the planned reconstruction of the Farleigh Habana Road intersection north of Mackay.
The intersection has long been regarded as a local blackspot, with multiple serious crashes recorded over the past decade.
Under the proposed upgrade, the intersection will be reconfigured to improve safety and provide greater capacity for heavy vehicles accessing the highway.
Planning and design work will commence immediately, with construction expected to begin in 2027.
The project forms part of the broader package of 52 new Bruce Highway projects now moving into design, planning or construction.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said targeting known blackspots remained a priority.
“We are delivering the safer Bruce Highway that regional Queensland has demanded and waited too long for,” Crisafulli said.
“This is about getting Queenslanders home sooner and safer, starting with the worst blackspots to boost safety on the Bruce.”
What does the next phase mean for freight operators?
The next stage of Bruce Highway upgrades represents one of the largest investments in regional freight infrastructure currently underway in Australia.
The upcoming program includes more than 300 kilometres of additional wide centre-line treatments, more than 145 kilometres of pavement strengthening, 23 intersection upgrades, new overtaking lanes and the replacement of eight narrow bridges.
Many of these projects are specifically targeted at improving freight productivity, reducing crash risks and increasing network resilience during extreme weather events.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the expanded delivery program would provide long-term benefits for freight operators and regional communities.
“We told Queenslanders we are committed to fixing the Bruce and works are already making a real difference for motorists, regional communities and freight operators between Gympie and Cairns,” Mickelberg said.