Bruce Highway (Brisbane - Gympie), Caboolture - Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way upgrade

This project will widen the 11km stretch of the Bruce Highway from 4 to 6 lanes between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163). This will include upgrading creek crossings to improve flood immunity at Lagoon, King Johns, Six Mile, Un-named and Beerburrum Creeks.

The Bruce Highway Upgrade—Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163) project was identified as 1 of 3 priority projects during the planning for future upgrades to the Bruce Highway, between Pine River and Caloundra Road.

The project is a major highway upgrade. Construction of the project will take around 3 years to complete, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Benefits

  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Increases traffic flow
  • Improves flood immunity

Key features

  • Two extra lanes (one in each direction) between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road interchange and Steve Irwin Way interchange (Exit 163). 110km/h posted speed north of D'Aguilar Highway and 100km/h posted speed to the south. 3.5m traffic lanes with 3m shoulders and flatter batters or barriers as required.

  • New 3-lane bridges to withstand a 1-in-100-year flood for northbound and southbound lanes at all 5 creek crossings. 

  • Caboolture-Bribie Island Road interchange modification to reduce southbound weaving and allow for ramp metering.

  • Northbound exit ramp separation for Caboolture- Bribie Island Road and D'Aguilar Highway interchange into 2 consecutive exit ramps.

  • Minor changes to existing interchanges at Pumicestone Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163).

  • Provision for smart technologies including ramp signals, variable speed limit and message signs, vehicle detection systems and CCTV cameras.

Funding

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 (federal:state) basis. Investment ID 481355

Total investment
$662.5 million
Australian Government
$530 million
Queensland Government
$132.5 million

Current status

The project is being constructed in sections, using 2 separate construction contracts. Contract 1 delivered the section from Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Pumicestone Road. This was awarded to Acciona Infrastructure Projects Australia in September 2020, with works beginning in November 2020. Contract 2 will deliver the section from Pumicestone Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163). This was awarded to Fulton Hogan in March 2021, with construction starting in June 2021.

Construction of Contract 1 was completed in August 2023.

Construction of Contract 2 is expected to be completed in early 2024, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Construction video

Video Transcript

The $662.5 million Bruce Highway Upgrade – Caboolture Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163) project is widening an 11 kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway from four to six lanes between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163). 

There will be upgraded creek crossings to improve flood immunity at Lagoon, King Johns, Six Mile, Un-named and Beerburrum creeks.

The project will improve the entry and exit ramps at the interchanges and provide for smart technologies including ramp signals, variable speed limit and message signs, vehicle detection systems and CCTV cameras.

Major construction works are being delivered as two separate contracts. 

The project is expected to be completed in late 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting, and will support an average of 664 direct jobs over the life of the project.

 

Major construction 

Works will be completed during the day whenever possible, with normal operating hours from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 7am to 5pm on Saturday. Due to the nature of the works and the proximity to live traffic, some activities will need to be completed at night when traffic volumes are lower. Night works hours are from 7pm to 5am Sunday to Friday. This will ensure the safety of motorists and workers.

Check QLDTraffic for up-to-date traffic information or call 13 19 40.

Key project milestones and achievements so far include: 

  • constructed and opened 5 new southbound highway bridges—at Six Mile, Un-named, Beerburrum, King Johns and Lagoon creeks. All bridges have been raised to provide 1-in-100-year flood proofing
  • realigned the Steve Irwin Way entry ramp and Pumicestone Road exit ramps onto their final alignments
  • realigned the southbound Bruce Highway exit ramp to Caboolture-Bribie Island Road
  • modified the northbound Bruce Highway exit ramp to the D'Aguilar Highway
  • switched southbound highway traffic onto a new carriageway
  • completed construction of new northbound King Johns and Lagoon Creek highway bridges
  • switched northbound highway traffic between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Pumicestone Road onto the final northbound carriageway.
Bruce Highway Upgrade—Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163): final design layout

Final design: May 2020

Contract 1 — Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Pumicestone Road 
Contract 1 section A aerial image 
Inset A: Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and D’Aguilar Highway
Inset B: Pumicestone Road interchange
Contract 2 – Pumicestone Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163)
Contract 2 highlighting sections C and D
Inset C: Pumicestone Road interchange
Contract 2 C aerial map
Inset D: Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163) interchange
Contract 2 C Image legend

Flythrough video

Video Transcript

The $662.5 million Bruce Highway Upgrade – Caboolture Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163) project is widening an 11 kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway from four to six lanes between Caboolture-Bribie Island Road and Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163). 

There will be upgraded creek crossings to improve flood immunity at Lagoon, King Johns, Six Mile, Un-named and Beerburrum creeks.

The project will improve the entry and exit ramps at the interchanges and provide for smart technologies including ramp signals, variable speed limit and message signs, vehicle detection systems and CCTV cameras.

Major construction works are being delivered as two separate contracts. 

The project is expected to be completed in late 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting, and will support an average of 664 direct jobs over the life of the project.