An unprecedented amount of road works is underway on the Sunshine Coast thanks to more than $3billion in Federal funding for the Bruce Highway. Here is an update on the progress of construction, and completion dates.
Bruce Highway Upgrade – Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway
The new southbound on ramp from Caloundra Road to the Bruce Highway opened in December 2018. This is the first permanent section of road that has opened to traffic. A 1.5 kilometre section of the Bruce Highway northbound carriageway heading towards the Sunshine Motorway will soon be switched on to the newly constructed western service road between Palmview Forest Drive and Sippy Creek Road. This will allow the first stage of construction to commence on the three new northbound lanes of the highway. Work is progressing on the transformation of the Caloundra Road interchange into Australia’s first Diverging Diamond Interchange that will link Caloundra Road and Steve Irwin Way with the Bruce Highway. Bridge construction is continuing for the new Sunshine Motorway interchange, as well as the new southbound off ramp from the highway to the motorway.
Construction for the project is expected to be completed in late 2020, weather and construction conditions permitting.
Bruce Highway Upgrade – Maroochydore Road to Mons Road
TMR is progressing detailed design for future upgrades to the Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges on the Bruce Highway near Forest Glen. Detailed design is expected to be completed by mid-2019. Construction of the interchange upgrades is expected to start in 2020 and is due to be completed in 2022, weather and construction conditions permitting.
Bruce Highway Planning Project – Pine River to Caloundra Road
Preliminary planning for the 60 kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway (from Pine River to the Caloundra Road interchange) is nearing completion. TMR has accelerated work on the three highest priority projects identified in the planning completed to date and there is a commitment to fund construction of these projects starting from 2020:
- Bruce Highway Upgrade – Managed Motorways Stage 2 (Pine River to Caloundra Road)
- Bruce Highway Upgrade – Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163)
- Bruce Highway Upgrade – Deception Bay Road interchange.
Detailed design will soon be underway for these three projects. TMR is on track to complete construction by the end of 2022, weather and construction conditions permitting.
Bruce Highway Upgrade – Cooroy to Curra, Section D
The Bruce Highway – Cooroy to Curra, Section D upgrade will deliver 26 kilometres of new four-lane, divided highway to the east of Gympie, with interchanges to provide safe connectivity to the Gympie region at Penny Road, Gympie Connection Road and Curra. The detailed design for the main alignment is complete. TMR is currently finalising the design for auxiliary works and is undertaking pre-construction activities in readiness for construction of the upgrade. The corridor is expected to be cleared by mid-2019, weather permitting. TMR will present the final design for the new highway to the community at public displays once consultation with property owners and all levels of government is complete.