$301m Bruce Highway Upgrade is ready to begin major construction

With construction set to begin in the coming weeks, an animated project concept has been released to the public to give motorists a glimpse of the $301.25 million upgrade on the Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges on the Bruce Highway. 

This project is part of the $12.6 billion 15-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments. 

The Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges upgrade is funded on an 80:20 basis – $241 million from the Australian Government and $60.25 million from the State Government. 

“Through this investment all Queenslanders, including Sunshine Coast motorists, can expect to see improvements in safety, efficiency and increased capacity along the Bruce Highway and at these two busy interchanges. 

“This is a great example of how the Australian Government’s $100 billion nationwide infrastructure investment is setting the foundations for economic recovery on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said. 

This Bruce Highway project includes: 

• Building a new 4-lane eastbound bridge over the Bruce Highway from Nambour Connection Road to Maroochydore Road 
• Converting the existing free-flowing Maroochydore Road and Nambour Connection Road roundabout to a fully controlled, signalised interchange 
• Extending and widening all on and off-ramps at the Maroochydore Road interchange 
• Connecting Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges via two new service roads on the eastern and western sides of the Bruce Highway 
• Removing the north-facing ramps at the Mons Road interchange 
• Upgrading the Mons Road southbound on-ramp 
• Relocating the Mons Road northbound off-ramp to a new roundabout at the intersection of Chevallum Road and Rainforest Road 
• Widening Mons Road under the Bruce Highway 
• Delivering new active transport facilities for bike riders and pedestrians through the Maroochydore Road interchange connecting to the eastern service road 

“The works will bust congestion at the interchanges and eliminate queuing onto the Bruce Highway. 

“It will provide more reliable and reduced travel times for freight transport and meet community demand for pedestrian and bike riding access and infrastructure. 

“It will also enable motorists to travel between the Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges at Forest Glen without having to use the Bruce Highway, separating local and regional traffic to improve safety and traffic flow on the national freight route and local roads,” Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said. 

Early works – which was undertaken by Shadford Civil – have already been completed and major construction is now ready to commence. 

The Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges upgrade is expected to support up to 380 jobs and major construction works are being undertaken by the Seymour Whyte and John Holland joint venture. 

“The Sunshine Coast can have confidence there is a solid pipeline of local work committed to the area over the next few years and beyond that, a safer and more efficient highway for locals and tourists,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said. 

The interchanges upgrade is due for completion in late 2022, weather permitting. 

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Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Queensland Government; QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads