It’s one of the roads most hated by grey nomads, but improvements are slowly being made to Queensland’s Bruce Highway.
The final traffic switch for the $117.4 million Townsville Northern Access Intersections Upgrade (TNAIU) on the highway has now taken effect.
It means motorists are able to use the rehabilitated northbound carriageway of the Bruce Highway at Black River. Northbound traffic had been using the southbound lanes while works were underway.
The final traffic switch means the entire 5.2 kilometres of the newly-built highway between Veales Road and Pope Road is now in use – a major milestone for the project, which is expected to be completed later this year.
Single-lane travel in each direction will remain while final works continue, including guardrail and sign installation and line-marking.
When the project is complete, the entire length of the 5.2km duplication will be on separated roadway with either a physical barrier, or enough separation between the northbound and southbound traffic lanes to significantly reduce the risk of crashes, particularly head-ons.
Senator for Queensland, Nita Green, said the project was part of a long-term partnership to upgrade the Bruce Highway, improving safety, flood resilience and capacity along the highway between Brisbane and Cairns.
“Vital infrastructure projects like this are helping support rural and regional Australia by connecting communities, strengthening freight networks and improving road safety,” she said.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, said that, as Townsville and the surrounding regions grow, these sorts of upgrades were vitally important in keeping drivers safe.
“I look forward to the project wrapping up later this year,” he said. “Getting locals and tourists home safer and sooner.”
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There is also a completed dual road between Gordonvale and Edmonton . No lights or intersections and a 100kph speed limit!
Only 1,500 km to go!