$662.5 million highway upgrade about to start

Work will start before Christmas on new lanes in both directions of the Bruce Highway between Caboolture and Beerburrum, in a project jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.

The $662.5 million upgrade will provide six lanes from the Caboolture/Bribie Island Road interchange to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163) - and create more than 660 jobs during construction.

The Australian Government is committing $530 million to the upgrade and Queensland Government $132.5 million.

Creating jobs

“The Australian Government’s contribution of $530 million is all about creating jobs for Queenslanders, particularly those in the construction and manufacturing industries,” says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey says there will be a number of highway upgrades being built at the same time between Brisbane and Gympie.

Four upgrades

“When work starts on this project, there will be four upgrades with a combined value of more than $2.8 billion transforming the highway between Brisbane and Gympie, supporting more than 2000 jobs all up as part of Queensland’s economic recovery plan,” Mr Bailey said. “Anyone who drives the highway regularly between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast will have experienced the congestion between Beerburrum and Elimbah.

“The work starting soon will widen an 11-kilometre section of the highway from four lanes to six lanes and replace 10 bridges over five creek crossings with wider, higher bridges.”

Fantastic news

Federal Member for Longman Terry Young said the upgrade consists of two contracts – one between Caboolture/Bribie Island Road and Pumicestone Road and a second between Pumicestone Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163).

“Both stages of the project are expected to be completed in early 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting,” Mr Young said.

“Work on the first stage will start later this year, while the second contract is expected to be awarded early next year and construction scheduled to start mid-2021 – all fantastic news for local jobs and drivers.”

The Deputy Prime Minister says Acciona Infrastructure Project Australia, formerly known as Lendlease Engineering, would do the first contract of works.

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