- Work has officially begun at Maryborough’s notorious Walker Street-Bruce Highway intersection.
- Upgrade is just one of the tools in the Crisafulli Government’s arsenal to fix the Bruce, including the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, with every cent being spent between Gympie and Cairns.
- The Crisafulli Government is fixing the Bruce to get Queenslanders home sooner and safer, after the former government failed to.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to create a new dual lane, four-leg roundabout at Maryborough’s Bruce Highway-Walker Street intersection.
Works are now underway to prepare for the new roundabout which will link Showgrounds Road, Walker Street and the Bruce Highway – improving safety, easing congestion, and helping locals get home safer and sooner.
Early works include site preparation followed by vegetation clearing which will facilitate major construction in the coming months.
The new roundabout will be built without any land resumptions and largely follows the existing road’s footprint, minimising the impact on the local community and on Bruce Highway traffic.
The upgrade was a key election commitment by the Crisafulli Government and addresses major community concerns which were ignored by the former state Labor Government during their decade of decline, leaving the Bruce Highway to waste away.
The existing 60km/h speed limit on the Bruce Highway will remain, while preserving all-access movements and local connectivity for Queenslanders travelling to and from Maryborough.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2028, weather and other conditions permitting.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was getting Queenslanders home sooner and safer with the upgrade to Walker Street-Bruce Highway intersection.
“We made a promise to make this notorious crash hotspot safer, and now we are doing exactly that,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“Today we see that delivery in action, with shovels in the ground machines rolling in to pave a fresh start for the people of Maryborough.
“This is about addressing real concerns from regional Queenslanders who have been ignored for far too long.”
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said early works marked an important step towards improving safety at the busy intersection.
“Throughout their decade of decline, the former state Labor Government neglected community concerns about the Walker Street intersection,” Minister Mickelberg said.
“This upgrade is about making one of Maryborough’s most dangerous intersections safer for locals and anyone travelling this section of the Bruce.
“We’re mostly building it away from existing traffic to minimise disruption, and we’re starting the early works now so that we can get shovels in the ground as soon as possible and open the roundabout to traffic in 2028.”
Member for Maryborough John Barounis said the start of early works at Walker Street was evidence of the Crisafulli Government delivering for Maryborough.
“The Crisafulli Government is making one of Maryborough’s most dangerous intersections safer for everyone who uses it,” Mr Barounis said.
“Before the election, we made a promise to the Maryborough community and the freight and trucking industry, and now we’re getting on with the job of delivering it.
“This upgrade will make the Bruce safer for all users, it will keep road access for locals, and we’re minimising the impact on drivers during construction – this is just another way we’re upgrading the Bruce to help Queenslanders get home sooner and safer.”