Mackay Ring Road
An improved link has been delivered from the south to the northern suburbs reducing traffic through Mackay.
ConstructionAn improved link has been delivered from the south to the northern suburbs reducing traffic through Mackay.
ConstructionA total transport solution has been delivered to provide long-term improvements to traffic flow and road safety through reducing congestion, highway travel time and improving road access.
CompletedThe department is undertaking integrated planning for the Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway Upgrades in north Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region.
The Bruce Highway Upgrade Program is the largest road infrastructure program in Queensland, aimed at enhancing safety, flood resilience, and capacity along the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns. It was initiated on 1 July 2013, with a 10-year commitment valued at $8.5 billion, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.
Over the years, the program received additional funding commitments. In May 2018, the Australian Government committed an additional $3.3 billion (based on 80:20 funding arrangements) to its existing $6.7 billion commitment. Furthermore, the Queensland Government committed an additional $200 million annually, on top of the initial $1.8 billion they had already provided, following an 80:20 funding arrangement.
In 2022, a jointly funded boost of $883 million was introduced specifically to target upgrades to various sections of the Bruce Highway, including areas between Gladstone and Rockhampton, Mackay and Proserpine, north of Townsville, and the Tiaro Bypass.
Overall, the program will deliver $13 billion of works over a 15-year period, spanning from 2013–14 to 2027–28.
To ensure proper management and oversight, the Queensland Government established the Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council. This council is responsible for developing a 15-year Vision and three 5-year rolling Action Plans, along with the Safer Bruce 2030 Action Plan, on this nationally significant link to:
The Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council is supported by a Technical Working Group established within the department comprising technical and subject-matter experts.
As the 10-year mark (1 July 2023), approximately 64% of total $13 billion program has been successfully delivered, in accordance with set delivery targets. The Bruce Highway Upgrade Program is on track with the delivery to date of:
The Bruce Highway is a crucial transportation route in Queensland, serving as the major north-south freight and commuter corridor, connecting various coastal population centres from Brisbane to Cairns over a total length of 1,673km. It plays a vital role in the National Land Transport Network linking west-east freight networks, connecting resource sectors, inland agriculture production areas, and coastal ports, while also serving as a major tourism route.
The Bruce Highway Upgrade focuses on the 3 priority areas during its 15-year course:
As with any major construction program, there might be delays that could affect travel. Therefore, it is advised to plan ahead and check for up-to-date details on QLDTraffic to help you plan your journey.
The department is undertaking the rehabilitation and maintenance program for the Burdekin River Bridge to preserve the structural integrity of the bridge. The ongoing program will ensure a safe and durable crossing is maintained for the long-term use of vehicles, heavy transport operators, rail operations, bicycle riders and pedestrians.
We are developing a rail corridor vision and a staged program of rail priorities to 2051 on the North Coast Line between Brisbane and Gympie North.
The project has delivered safety upgrades to around 6km of the Bruce Highway between the Bowen Connection Road and Champion Street intersections to provide a safer, smoother and more efficient road network.
Safety on the Bruce Highway at Inkerman will be improved through the installation of new northbound overtaking opportunity and upgrades to the Mount Inkerman Road intersection.
The department is planning to upgrade the Bruce Highway from Anzac Avenue, North Lakes to Uhlmann Road, Burpengary.
The department is planning to upgrade the Bruce Highway from Buchanan Road, Morayfield to Caboolture-Bribie Island, Caboolture.
Major construction was completed for the Bruce Highway Upgrade — Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way project in April 2024. This project widened the 11km stretch of the Bruce Highway from 4 to 6 lanes between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163). This also included upgrading creek crossings to improve flood immunity at Lagoon, King Johns, Six Mile, Un-named and Beerburrum Creeks.
The department is planning to upgrade the Bruce Highway from the Uhlmann Road, Burpengary to Buchanan Road, Morayfield.
The Bruce Highway (Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Avenue) business case has developed a staged approach to manage increasing traffic demands on this section of the Bruce Highway.
The $1 billion Section D: Woondum to Curra project is a new 26km, 4-lane divided highway between the existing Bruce Highway interchange at Woondum, south of Gympie and Curra.
Planning is complete and the detailed design stage has commenced for a new four-lane section of the Bruce Highway to the east of Tiaro. The project will increase the flood immunity, safety and efficiency of the Bruce Highway and future-proof the road to cater for growing traffic volumes. It will also remove a significant number of heavy vehicles from the Tiaro township, improving safety and liveability for residents.
Planning has started to improve safety and reduce the time of closure due to flooding on a complex section of the Bruce Highway at the Gairloch floodway, approximately 6km north of Ingham.
The department is progressing a $9 million planning project to plan and protect a suitable road corridor for a future bypass of Innisfail, if required.
The department is progressing a project to upgrade the intersection of the Bruce Highway and Munro Street at Babinda.
Upgrades to improve flood immunity at Jumper Creek, between Mackay and Proserpine are now complete.
Construction has started at the Knobels Road and Nebia Coningsby Road intersection to improve safety and enhance visibility.
Safety upgrades are being delivered to almost 20km of the Bruce Highway from Proserpine to Bowen, as part of the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.
The Bruce Highway and Don Street intersection will be upgraded to provide a safer, smoother, more efficient road network. The project will also reconfigure the intersection to include a separate lane for vehicles turning right from the Bruce Highway to enter and accelerate to through traffic speed before merging.
Bruce Highway upgrades between Leichhardt Creek and Cassowary Creek (about 42km north of Townsville).
The department has delivered a planning project to investigate and prioritise upgrades to the Bruce Highway between the Pine River and Caloundra Road.
A planning study has been undertaken to investigate future upgrade requirements on the Bruce Highway between Deception Bay Road and Caboolture-Bribie Island Road.
We have completed early planning to determine future upgrade needs for the Bruce Highway between the Sunshine Motorway and Maroochydore Road. The planning identifies a long-term solution to meet future traffic growth, reduce traffic congestion, and improve safety and flood immunity.
The Bruce Highway - Pine River to Caloundra Road Smart Motorways (Stage 2) project will deliver additional Smart Motorways technology along a 60km section of the Bruce Highway between the Pine River and Caloundra Road.
A total transport solution has been delivered to provide long-term improvements to traffic flow and road safety through reducing congestion, highway travel time and improving road access.
Planning for the Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 5), Foster Road upgrade intersection project will assess and recommend options to upgrade this intersection.
This project involves a 62km realignment and upgrade of the Bruce Highway to 4 lanes between Cooroy and Curra and is among Queensland's highest priority road projects.
The Linkfield Road Overpass upgrade project is currently in the design phase, following the conclusion of planning and community consultation activities in late 2021.
A major upgrade of Bruce Highway and major intersections north of Mackay to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in critical areas has been completed.
Mackay Port Access will provide a direct link for freight movements from the Mackay Port to the Mackay Ring Road, and west to the Bowen Basin coal fields via the Walkerston Bypass and Peak Downs Highway.
An improved link has been delivered from the south to the northern suburbs reducing traffic through Mackay.
The Rockhampton Ring Road is a long-term, visionary project for the Bruce Highway. It will unlock future economic growth and deliver significant benefits including improved flood resilience, freight efficiencies and road safety, and reduced travel times.
The Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 project, a landmark initiative that has brought about substantial improvements in road safety, traffic flow and travel time predictability for both freight and passenger vehicles along the Bruce Highway in Townsville, has been completed.
Last updated: 31 July 2023