BRISBANE, Queensland, Nov. 13 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Transport and Main Roads

The Honourable Brent Mickelberg

* Construction will begin this month on major safety upgrades at Rungoo on the Bruce Highway, south of Cardwell. * The project will widen a 3.8-kilometre section of the highway betweenBowder Creek and Damper Creek and deliver wide centre line treatment and audio tactile line marking. * The upgrades form part of the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, funded on an 80:20 basis by theAlbanese and Crisafulli Governments to get Queenslanders home sooner and safer. * The project is another milestone in Fixing the Bruce, improving safety, reliability and resilience on one of Queensland's most important transport corridors.

The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments are delivering another major milestone under the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, with construction set to begin later this month on safety upgrades at Rungoo, south of Cardwell.

The project will upgrade a 3.8-kilometre section of the Bruce Highway between Bowder Creek and Damper Creek, delivering wider road shoulders, wide centre line treatment and audio tactile line marking to improve safety and reduce the risk of serious crashes, helping Queenslanders get home sooner and safer.

The start of construction follows the awarding of contracts for three major safety projects in the Cassowary Coast region and marks another step forward in delivering practical improvements through the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.

For local communities, freight operators and visitors, the project means a safer and more reliable highway, helping support tourism, regional industry and the thousands of motorists who rely on the Bruce every day.

The Rungoo section of the Bruce Highway has a concerning safety history. Between January 2019 and January 2025, 21 crashes were recorded on this section of road, resulting in seven fatalities and 20 hospitalisations.

The project forms part of the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, funded on an 80:20 basis by the Albanese and Crisafulli Government, the largest investment ever made in improving safety on the Bruce Highway, with projects now being delivered right along the corridor between Gympie and Cairns.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said it was encouraging to see significant progress under the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.

"The Bruce Highway is a critical transport link for Queensland, connecting communities and supporting freight and industry across the state," Minister King said.

"Through our joint investment in the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, we're delivering targeted improvements where they can make a real difference to the safety of motorists.

"The award of these contracts is another important step towards getting these safety improvements delivered for everyone who relies on this section of the Bruce Highway."

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the project demonstrated the success of the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program and the commitment from the Crisafulli Government to get Queenslanders home sooner and safer.

"Working with the Commonwealth, the Crisafulli Government is getting on with delivering projects up and down the Bruce, all designed to get Queenslanders homesooner and safer,"Minister Mickelberg said. 

"Under the 80:20 funding deal we struck with the Commonwealth - which we fought hard to deliver - every cent of the $9 billion is being spent upgrading the Bruce Highway between Gympie and Cairns.  

"The Rungoo section has a well-documented crash history, and these upgrades target a known high-risk location with proven safety treatments that are designed to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.

"We told Queenslanders were committed to fixing the Bruce and the works underway up and down the spine of our state shows we're doing what we said we would.  

"Already the completed works are already making a real difference for motorists, regional communities and freight operators between Gympie and Cairns." 

Senator for Queensland Nita Green said the Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program was delivering improvements at high-risk locations to help reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.

"With thousands of vehicles travelling along the Bruce Highway each day, these upgrades are a big win for locals, freight operators and tourists across the region," Senator Green said.

"With works getting underway, these projects are another example of our commitment to delivering safer and more reliable roads for Queensland."

Member for Hinchinbrook Wayde Chiesa said local communities would be glad to see work get underway on the long-awaited Bruce Highway upgrade at Rungoo.

"Whether its families heading into town, bus drivers on their daily runs, truckies moving freight or visitors exploring our region, people rely on this stretch of the Bruce every day.

"Locals have been waiting a long time for this upgrade, and I'm pleased the Crisafulli Government is getting on with the job. Making the highway safer at Rungoo will make a real difference for everyone travelling between Hinchinbrook and the Cassowary Coast."

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Minister King: Kallista Kaval, 0474 048 152

Minister Mickelberg: Brendan Morris, 0428 962 414

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.