Consultant appointed for Bruce Highway planning

13 January 2017

Bruce Highway upgrades near Forest Glen on the Sunshine Coast are a step closer to construction with a contractor appointed to undertake planning.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff would deliver a business case for future upgrades of the Bruce Highway interchanges at Maroochydore/Nambour Connection Road and Mons Road.

“They will also undertake a strategic needs assessment for potential future upgrades to the Bruce Highway between the Sunshine Motorway and Maroochydore Road,” Mr Chester said.

“This appointment brings renewed momentum to this important project, which is now only about one year away from having a detailed business case delivered, including a prioritised scope of future works and estimated costs.

“The scoping phase will investigate ways to alleviate potentially major problems at the Maroochydore Road Interchange by investigating solutions that will address the traffic congestion and safety issues along the stretch of the Bruce Highway where it intersects with Maroochydore Road on the Sunshine Coast.

“The joint funding commitment by the Australian and Queensland Governments of up to $7.46 million will enable a business case to be developed for the future upgrade of this section of the Bruce Highway.”

Acting Queensland Minister for Roads and Road Safety Jackie Trad said the future interchange upgrades were significant projects and an investment in vital transport infrastructure to underpin economic development in the rapidly growing Sunshine Coast region.

“The benefits of the planning work can’t be underestimated with a new, four-lane eastbound bridge over the Bruce Highway and signals on each junction to the Maroochydore Road/Nambour Connection Road roundabout already on the table,” Ms Trad said.

“New north-south service roads situated east and west of the Bruce Highway are also earmarked to link Mons Road and Maroochydore Road, enabling the diversion of local traffic from the highway and providing a safer option for residents and commuters alike.

“The next steps are to investigate the preferred infrastructure option in more detail, develop the business case and prepare a report on the potential need for future upgrades on the Bruce Highway between the Sunshine Motorway and the Maroochydore Road interchange.”

Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said people living, working and commuting in Forest Glen, Buderim, Maroochydore and Nambour can look forward to a significantly reduced risk of crashes and a substantial capacity increase at the interchange, better local connections and smooth access to the highway.

"The appointment of this firm is an important step in realising the future delivery of this important economic infrastructure project,” Mr O’Brien said.

“These planning projects will also enable the Bruce Highway to achieve its primary purpose of catering for safe and efficient movement of regional and inter-regional freight and traffic movement.”

Once the business case and report on the future upgrade needs is complete, the projects will be assessed by Infrastructure Australia as part of the approval process to receive further Australian Government funding.

For further information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and click on 1) Projects, then 2) ‘B’, then 3) Bruce Highway Maroochydore Road to Mons Road.

 

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Source:  Queensland Government - www.statements.qld.gov.au

Contact:  Zoe Russell  0428 079 640 (media contact)

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