Final contract awarded on $622.5 million upgrade

The final contract has been awarded to build a major section of the Bruce Highway upgrade between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way at Exit 163.

Fulton Hogan, which will deliver the contract, will focus on the section between Pumicestone Road and Steve Irwin Way (at Exit 163), with work expected to start by mid-2021.

Construction work on the first contract, by Acciona Infrastructure Australia, began in November 2020 and is progressing well with the new southbound lanes underway.

The upgrade will involve widening the 11-kilometre section of Bruce Highway from a four-lanes to six-lanes divided carriageway. It will also replace 10 bridges over five creek crossings with wider and higher bridges.

Commuter corridor

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack says the $662.5 million project was being delivered under the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program – the largest infrastructure program in Queensland.

“The Bruce Highway is Queensland’s major north-south freight and commuter corridor and the Australian Government is committed to improving road safety standards and efficiency across the road network,” the Deputy Prime Minister says.

“We are continuing to roll out these types of major projects across the nation under our $110 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, which is laying the foundations for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says this is the first of five upgrades with a combined value of more than $3 billion transforming the highway between Brisbane and Gympie while supporting more than 2000 jobs.

Local jobs

Federal Member for Longman Terry Young said the second contract includes targets to ensure up to 90 per cent of local contract expenditure occurs within 75kms of the project site.

“Other contract conditions will ensure direct hires for up to 80 per cent of the project’s workforce, targeting leading hands, operators and labourers directly, as well as increasing training opportunities for staff and new employees and increasing opportunities for Indigenous workers,” Mr Young said.

“In addition to delivering a safer road network, the project is supporting an average of 664 direct jobs and is scheduled for completion in early 2023.

Queensland Member for Pumicestone Ali King said the project would deliver upgrades to the Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Pumicestone Road highway exits.

New ramps

“Entry and exit ramps will be upgraded and a new northbound lane will be added, starting from the Caboolture-Bribie Island turnoff,” says Ms King.

“The upgrades will improve safety at the turnoffs and reduce travel times but of course there will be minor delays through roadworks so I’d like to thank the local community and motorists for their patience as our team gets on with the job.”

The Bruce Highway Upgrade – Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163) is a jointly funded $662.5 million project, with the Australian Government committing $530 million and the Queensland Government committing $132.5 million. 

More details about this project visit tmr.qld.gov.au/C2SIW

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