Major safety improvements for Bruce Highway north of Tiaro

29 March 2018

Major safety improvements for Bruce Highway north of Tiaro

Completion of a $16.55 million upgrade of a six-kilometre section of the Bruce Highway north of Tiaro has improved safety.
 
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said the project involved building dedicated turning lanes and a new northbound overtaking lane, installing wide centre lines and extending an existing southbound overtaking lane.

“The Bruce Highway is Queensland’s major north-south road corridor and these works help create a more free-flowing road network while also improving safety levels,” Mr McCormack said.
 
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the upgrade would improve road safety for local residents, visitors to the region and the trucking industry.
 
“The new and extended overtaking lanes will provide motorists with safer opportunities to pass slow-moving vehicles and the creation of a one-metre gap between opposing oncoming lanes further reduces the risk of serious accidents – including ‘head-ons’,” Mr Bailey said.
 
Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said by effectively separating through and turning traffic the new dedicated turning lanes had also reduced the potential for rear-end crashes.
 
“These safety improvements have substantially reduced the risks associated with turning onto and off the highway at Tahlia Lane, Canterwood Road and the Old Gympie Road and Petersen Road intersections,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“The Bruce Highway between Gympie and Maryborough is notoriously dangerous and this new upgrade will improve safety along this section. But there is a lot more work to be done, and the immediate priority needs to be the Cooroy to Curra Section D project, which will be a gamechanger for motorists travelling between Maryborough and Cooroy, and I am continuing to fight for funding to construct it.”
 
Queensland Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the upgrade was an excellent example of the Australian and Queensland governments working together to improve road safety.
 
“The works also delivered a new right-turn lane at the Hoffman Road intersection, along with left and right right-turn lanes at the Old Bruce Highway south intersection, while Owanyilla Boundary Road east intersection has now permanently closed to accommodate the extended southbound overtaking lane,” Mr Saunders said.
 
The $16.55 million project was jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing $13.24 million and the Queensland Government contributing $3.31 million.