GYMPIE BYPASS BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION AT EAST DEEP CREEK

Motorists on the Bruce Highway may experience minor delays and detours during December while large concrete bridge girders are delivered as part of the $1 billion Gympie bypass.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is advising motorists to take care and be aware of the night works and detours surrounding the construction of new bridges at East Deep Creek.

“This night work is necessary to build the two dual lane bridges that will carry the new Bruce Highway over Tannery Creek at East Deep Creek,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The new bridges are 100 metres in length and are designed to carry more than 11,000 vehicles every day. The concrete bridge girders needed for the 100 metre span will be massive, so it makes sense to transport them at night.

“The concrete bridge girders are coming from Brisbane and will be transported to the Tannery Creek bridge site via two routes off the Bruce Highway.

“In 2018 the former Coalition Government allocated the $800 million for the Gympie bypass because the Cooroy to Curra section of the Bruce Highway is rated as one of the deadliest along our national highway,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Section D, which is the four lane 26 Kilometre realignment of the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Curra is set to open in mid-2024 and will bypass Gympie, eliminating eight sets of traffic lights,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Bruce Highway will then be a flood proof four-lane divided highway from Brisbane to north of Gympie, which will reduce travel time, improve safety, and increase freight efficiency.

“With the school holidays starting soon and Christmas fast approaching, this usually signals an increase in traffic on our roads. There will be several road works sites along the Bruce Highway, so please drive carefully and follow the road rules and observe the speed limit.”