$336m Tiaro Bypass project in QLD a step closer to construction

The Tiaro Bypass is closer to being built with the completion of concept design back in December 2021, giving Queenslanders a first look of what this section of the Bruce Highway will look like. 

This new four-lane road will address several issues on the Bruce Highway east of Tiaro – including safety, flood immunity and traffic efficiency – as well as improve the highway’s capacity now and into the future. 

“The draft concept design includes nine kilometres of new, four-lane highway, a concrete centre median, interchanges north and south of Tiaro, and improved highway flood immunity. 

“The Australian Government is investing over $10 billion in a safer, smoother and more reliable Bruce Highway. This will benefit Queenslanders, from Brisbane to Cairns, on this key north-south route,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said. 

The Tiaro Bypass project is being delivered as part of the Queensland Government’s sixth record roads and transport budget, which will deliver about $1.8 billion worth of road and transport infrastructure over the next four years in the Wide Bay, Burnett and South West regions. 

“A big part of delivering major infrastructure like this is ensuring our plans meet the expectations and needs of the community. 

“That’s why consulting with local stakeholders, like the Tiaro Community Working Group, has been such an important part of the planning process. 

“A number of key project features have been influenced by feedback from the working group, who have done an excellent job in representing the interests of the local Tiaro community and businesses,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

This much-needed infrastructure will not only improve safety on the Bruce Highway, but it will also help open up the Fraser Coast economy. 

The draft concept design for the new bypass includes: 

• 9 kilometres of 4-lane highway with a concrete centre median barrier to separate northbound and southbound traffic and reduce the risk of head-on collisions 
• 2 connection points to Tiaro – one at Wilson Road in the north and one at Tahiti Road in the south – to provide efficient access to the township and help encourage visitation 
• Grade separated interchanges, with overpass bridges at each connection to Tiaro to separate local and through traffic and provide safe connectivity to and from the new bypass 
• A realignment of Bauple Drive to connect to the new Tahiti Road interchange via a service road to improve safety 

Draft concept design (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

The preferred alignment of the Tiaro Bypass will help minimise impacts on property owners, adjacent residents, sensitive environment areas as well as waterways and heritage artefacts. 

“It’s important that this new section of the Bruce Highway is built to meet community expectations, now and into the future. 

“I encourage everyone to look closely at the design and the access points, and consider how traffic will flow both through and around Tiaro. 

“Our joint investment in Tiaro will support an estimated 490 direct jobs over the life of the project, and when completed the new section of highway will support agriculture, heavy industry and manufacturing by enabling the safe and efficient transportation of produce and goods from our region,” Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said. 

The Tiaro Bypass project is currently in the planning phase, which is due to be completed in early-2022. Detailed design development will follow once the planning stage is done. 

“A business case report detailing the project scope, cost and expected timeframes will now be undertaken, before we move into the detailed design phase. 

“The detailed design phase also includes preparation of construction contracts and drawings, and detailed cost estimates. 

“It’s at that point we will understand when we can get on with construction of this important bypass, which will improve flood immunity, safety and traffic efficiency,” Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Saunders said. 

The $336 million Tiaro Bypass project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads; Roads & Infrastructure Australia