The new federal government is immediately looking to make the Bruce Highway safer and less congested for freight operators
The newly elected federal government says it will expand Queensland’s Bruce Highway to make the freight route better and help get people through the road sooner and safer.
The government says it will work to expand the highway from six to eight lanes between Anzac Avenue and Uhlmann Road.
The announcement partners the government’s $200 million commitment to widen the highway between Dohles Rocks Road and Anzac Avenue, with this new boost expected to improve the Bruce Highway for freight operators.
The Bruce Highway is known as a key Queensland freight route and an important commuter corridor, but the federal government wants to ease congestion on the 13-kilometre stretch of road between Mango Hill and South Caboolture.
“I want to be a prime minister who builds things,” prime minister Anthony Albanese says.
“Building better roads means jobs for Queenslanders, increased productivity as people and freight move around quicker and a safer journey for people returning home from work.”
With Brisbane’s north becoming a focus area with the Olympics on the horizon, the federal government says easing congestion will protect and enhance the lifestyle of Queensland workers and citizens.
The government is partnering with the Queensland state government to invest a further $586.4 million to deliver the $733 million upgrade on the freight corridor.
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“The Bruce Highway is the economic artery of Queensland, and we didn’t get any commitment for new construction money in the last federal government’s budget,” Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
“We welcome this boost to the Bruce, which will mean quicker and safer trips between Caboolture and Brisbane as well as up to the Sunshine Coast.”
The federal government expects the project to support 535 direct jobs and deliver time savings, improved safety, greater freight reliability and flood immunity improvements when completed.