Significant progress is being made on the Bruce Highway Upgrade - Maroochydore Road and Mons Road Interchanges.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said this project is another example of Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien's determination to deliver for the people of the Sunshine Coast.
"This investment is about making sure the infrastructure Queenslanders need and deserve is funded and delivered," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
"The Federal Government is investing over $10 billion in a safer, smoother and more reliable Bruce Highway, benefitting all Queenslanders, from Brisbane to Cairns, on this key north-south route."
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the completion of a new, eastern service, road bridge over Eudlo Creek marked a major milestone for the project in Forest Glen.
"As part of the $301.25 million project, two-way service roads on the eastern and western sides of the Bruce Highway will be built, which will allow travel between the Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges without having to use the highway, separating local and regional traffic," Mr Bailey said.
"Favourable construction conditions have allowed the project team to make significant progress, with Bruce Highway southbound traffic now diverted onto a completed section of the new eastern service road over Eudlo Creek.
"This traffic switch enables major drainage infrastructure to be installed under the southbound carriageway and will be in place until early next year (2022).
"The new, four-lane, eastbound bridge over the highway at the Maroochydore Road interchange is also taking shape, with the bridge girders, deck units and safety barriers in place.
"Work to widen and lengthen the entry and exit ramps to the interchange have started, with major earthworks and drainage upgrades underway.
"When complete, the upgraded interchange improve capacity and feature an on-road, bike lane and a three-metre, shared, pedestrian path."
Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien said the upgrade had been worth fighting for and now that it's being delivered, the real winners will be Sunshine Coast residents, workers and businesses.
"This upgrade is transformational for the Sunshine Coast - providing greater efficiency, capacity and allowing people to get home sooner and safer," Mr O'Brien said.
"This upgrade is estimated to support more than 380 direct jobs over its life until it is completed in late 2022, weather and construction conditions permitting.
"There have been 20 new apprentices and trainees employed, and 24 Indigenous workers have worked more than 4,960 hours on site."
The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis, with the Australian Government contributing $241 million and the Queensland Government contributing $60.25 million.
Other Bruce Highway upgrades progressing in the Transport and Main Roads North Coast Region include:
- Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway - The $932 million project is now surging towards completion with the finishing touches underway over coming weeks. Work on all six lanes between the two interchanges was completed in late July 2021 and the posted speed limit has increased from 80km/h to the permanent 110km/h.
- Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way - The $662.5 million upgrade is well underway. The upgrade involves building two extra lanes, one in each direction, along the 11-kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway. In addition to widening the highway, works will include building 10 bridges to improve flood immunity at Lagoon, King John, Six Mile and Beerburrum creeks. The project is expected to be completed in early 2023 and support an estimated average of 660 direct jobs over the life of the project.
- Deception Bay Road Interchange - Work started on the jointly funded $163.3 million Bruce Highway Upgrade - Deception Bay Road Interchange in November last year. The project involves building two parallel bridges over the Bruce Highway, upgrading two signalised intersections on Deception Bay Road and Old Gympie Road, increasing the length and capacity of existing entry and exit ramps and providing facilities for people walking and riding bikes. Works are expected to be completed in 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting. This investment is estimated to support an average of 270 direct jobs over the life of the project.
