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Major contractors begin works on $481M Bruce Highway upgrade

Works have begun on stage three of the Cairns Southern Access Corridor project which will see the Bruce Highway upgraded between Edmonton and Gordonvale.

This road construction project is the biggest of its kind in Far North Queensland. HSA Group, comprising John Holland Seymour Whyte and AECOM Group, will construct the upgrades.

The 10.5 kilometre upgrade is expected to double capacity on one of the Bruce Highway’s busiest two-lane sections and support 466 jobs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said this is another example of the Australian Government getting on with delivering key infrastructure projects which will support jobs and boost the economy, particularly in regional areas.

“The southern suburbs of Cairns are growing fast and that is why the Australian Government has committed more than $840 million towards upgrading the Cairns Southern Access Corridor from Gordonvale to Cairns CBD,” Mr. McCormack said.

“Not only will this project duplicate the highway, it will also deliver new service roads and partially close several intersections and direct accesses to the existing highway. This will improve traffic flow, increase the speed limit to 100 kilometres per hour and create a safer and more efficient Bruce Highway for the future.”

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the project would also see a number of at-grade level crossings removed, a new overpass south of Maitland Road and a brand new alignment for the highway. He said these upgrades will tackle congestion on the major freight route and create a pipeline of construction and supporting jobs for Cairns over the next few years.

“It’s part of a $1.45 billion roads and transport program for the Far North, that includes the jointly funded $104 million Cairns Southern Access Stage 4 – Kate Street to Aumuller Street project and the $164 million Smithfield Bypass.

The contractors have started with early work to remove vegetation, demolish structures in the project corridor and establish a sit office near Kern Street at Gordonvale.

Completion of the project is expected for 2023. The works are jointly funded by the Federal Government ($381.81 million) and the Queensland Government ($92.19 million).

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