FURTHER BRIDGE AND GIRDER WORKS FOR GYMPIE BYPASS

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has advised there will be further works in progress during September and October as the Gympie bypass (Section D) edges closer to its proposed completion date of late 2024.

An inspection of the bridges at the new Bruce Highway interchange in Woondum is planned for Tuesday 26 September, between 10am and 2pm.

“To finalise constriction activities for the two new 100 metre dual lane bridges, southbound traffic will be detoured onto the Old Bruce Highway between Woondum and the Traveston interchange (location of the Puma Service Centre),” Mr O’Brien said.

“Motorists are advised to drive to the changed conditions, follow the directional signage, and allow extra travel time.”

There will also be intermittent night works between late September and early October to deliver and install girders to the Six Mile Creek bridge site.

“This work is required to construct the two new 250 metre long bridges that carry the new Bruce Highway over Six Mile Creek,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The girders will be delivered and installed between 12am and 6am, due to the conditions for oversize loads using the Bruce Highway.”

“While these works may cause temporary inconvenience for motorists and nearby residents, once the bypass is completed, the 26 kilometre realignment of the Bruce Highway will reduce travel times, improve safety, and increase freight efficiency,” Mr O’Brien said.

“In 2018 the former Coalition Government allocated the $800 million for the Gympie bypass, because this section of the Bruce Highway is rated as one of the deadliest along our national highway.”

“More than 11,000 vehicles travel on this part of the Bruce Highway every day, and the Gympie bypass will eliminate eight sets of traffic lights and deliver four lanes along this new corridor to support the safe and efficient movement of cars and trucks, even during flood events.”