$11.2 million upgrade for Bruce Hwy and Wide Bay Hwy intersection

May 15, 2017

15/05/2017

$11.2 million upgrade for Bruce Hwy and Wide Bay Hwy intersection

Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Senator Matt Canavan, have welcomed the Federal Government’s Budget commitment of $11.2 million to upgrade the intersection of the Bruce and Wide Bay highways at Bells Bridge.

Mr O’Brien said the upgrade would improve safety at the intersection by separating traffic movements and allowing continuity of flow for southbound Bruce Highway traffic.

About 12,100 vehicles use the intersection every day, including more than 2000 heavy vehicles.

The intersection currently can experience long delays during peak periods, which can cause some drivers to become impatient and take unnecessary risks, Mr O’Brien said.

“This upgrade will reduce delays for traffic turning right, improve travel times for freight and general traffic, and most importantly, make the intersection safer for all drivers,” Mr O’Brien said.

More than 90 per cent of the eastbound traffic on the Wide Bay Highway turns right (south) at the intersection with the Bruce Highway, heading towards Gympie.

“The number of vehicles travelling through Gympie has reached 25,000 each day and it is increasing. So I am continuing to push the importance of the Section D Cooroy to Curra project, as well as upgrades between Gympie and Maryborough, with Transport Minister Darren Chester,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The upgrade to the Wide Bay Highway interchange is a much needed step forward in both safety and traffic management, and the good work must continue by fast-tracking the funding and construction of additional projects in Wide Bay to prevent more lives from being lost on this notorious stretch.”

 

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