Nine billion dollars will be invested to bring the entire length of Queensland’s Bruce Highway up to a minimum three-star safety rating.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Federal Government would commit $7.2 billion in an 80-20 deal with the Queensland Government.
Prime Minister Albanese said the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads had estimated $9 billion would achieve a minimum of three out of five-star safety rating for the entirety of the Bruce.
“This historic funding is the single largest investment ever into the Bruce Highway, and brings the Australian Government’s total outlay for the 1673 km road to more than $17 billion,” he said.
Prime Minister Albanese said key stakeholders, including RACQ, Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF), Queensland Trucking Association (QTA), and Queensland Tourism Industry Council had called for more investment and a long-term plan to fix the Bruce.
He said the Bruce Highway had an average Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) crash rate three to five times higher than any major highway in New South Wales and Victoria.
“As the major north-south corridor which connects Brisbane to the regional centres of Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, the Bruce is critical to the movement of passengers, freight and tourists across the state – supporting around 62 percent of the population in Queensland.”
Prime Minister Albanese said the new safety package would fast-track critical projects along the whole corridor and will initially focus on priority sections north of Gympie that have been identified by stakeholders due to their higher than average crash rates.
He said priority sections also included Maryborough to Benaraby, Rockhampton to St Lawrence, Bowen to Townsville and Ingham to Innisfail.
“Projects within the package may include installing safety barriers, wide centre lines and audio tactile line marking; constructing wider shoulders; increasing run off areas, overtaking lanes and rest areas; and improving intersections, signage, and sight lines.
“There will also be a focus on resealing and rehabilitating road surfaces for resilience to ‘Build Back Better’, thereby mitigating damage from increasing weather events.”
Prime Minister Albanese said the identification and prioritisation of projects funded under the package would be made in consultation with the Queensland Government and the Bruce Highway Advisory Council, with works commencing this year.
“I’ve driven the Bruce Highway many times, and I know the critical role it plays for Queenslanders, tourists and freight.”
