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. The State's annual Bruce Highway funding commitment will increase to $250 million per annum from 2027–28 onwards, on top of the additional $1.8 billion the Queensland Government has already provided.
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, between Mackay and Proserpine, north of Townsville, and the Tiaro Bypass.
To ensure proper management and oversight, the Queensland Government established the Bruce Highway Trust Advisory Council. This council was 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 was supported by a Technical Working Group established within the department comprising technical and subject-matter experts.
The Bruce Highway Upgrade Program is on track with the delivery 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.
Detailed design is underway for a proposed upgrade of the Booral Road and Boundary Road intersection at Urangan.
Planning is underway to improve flood immunity and safety on a section of Booral Road at Bunya Creek, including the Main Street intersection.
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.
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 department is delivering staged upgrades to manage increasing traffic demands on this section of the Bruce Highway. Stage 1 includes extended north-facing ramps from Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Avenue.
The $1.162 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.
This project will provide Intelligent Transport System infrastructure at various locations along the Bruce Highway between Pine River and Cairns.
Safety upgrades have been completed to almost 20km of the Bruce Highway from Proserpine to Bowen, as part of the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.
Bruce Highway works, between Townsville and Ingham, are underway to improve safety and upgrade a rest area.
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 Bundaberg Integrated Transport Strategy is being jointly developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Bundaberg Regional Council to develop an overarching framework that aims to integrate plans and policies, current and future, relating to the movement of people and services.
In October 2007 Transport and Main Roads (then Queensland Transport) engaged GHD to undertake a study to identify a rail corridor (for freight traffic) to connect the Port of Bundaberg to the existing rail network via the North Coast line. The study report determined that protection of the corridor within the local government planning scheme was not warranted at the time, and the project was closed.
Construction and design works are underway for upgrades at various locations as part of a program of works to improve the D'Aguilar Highway between Yarraman and Kingaroy.
The department is improving the flood immunity and resilience of the state-controlled road network at 27 priority sites.
Detailed design is underway for active transport bridges and pathways to connect Southside to Gympie's CBD and surrounds.
The department will improve safety on a 40km stretch of the Isis Highway from Airport Drive to the Bruce Highway.
The department has been investigating options to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety and freight access for the Linkfield Road Overpass in Bald Hills.
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 upgrade of the Maryborough - Hervey Bay Road and Pialba - Burrum Heads Road intersection in Eli Waters will improve traffic movement and the safety of motorists, pedestrians and bicycle riders.
Planning is underway for an upgrade of the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road, Ibis Boulevard and Fairway Drive intersection.
The department is progressively upgrading and sealing the gravel sections of Monto - Mount Perry Road to improve road user safety and comfort, and reduce future maintenance requirements.
This upgrade will improve flood resilience for Hervey Bay and surrounding communities and involves pavement realignment, widening and culvert upgrades.
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.
Repairs are underway across southern Queensland after extensive and severe damage to the state-controlled road network was caused by multiple heavy rainfall and flooding events in 2022.
Construction will commence this year on a new roundabout at the intersection of Tin Can Bay Road and Bayside Road, at Tin Can Bay.
A new facility is being constructed in the Maryborough region, to manufacture the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program fleet.
Work is underway on flood immunity and intersection upgrades along sections of Torbanlea – Pialba Road between Beelbi Creek and Takura.
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: 2 July 2024