Traffic Flow Boosted With Northern Access Project Completed

A multi-million infrastructure project to provide better access to Mackay’s north has now been completed.

The $144.55 million Mackay Northern Access Upgrade project was delivered to improve safety, reduce congestion and boost traffic flow at critical locations on the Bruce Highway and major intersections north of Mackay.

It has increased highway capacity with extra traffic lanes extending from Ron Camm Bridge to south of Bald Hill Road, and intersection upgrades along the route.

Construction also included widening the Goosepond Creek bridges, new bridge overpasses at Davey Street, and a new bridge and widening the existing structure at Janes Creek.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Mackay Northern Access Upgrade is officially complete, to the benefit of locals, tourists and heavy vehicles who travel the Bruce Highway into and through Mackay.

"By improving access and the safety of intersections along this section of the Bruce, we're helping locals get home to their families sooner and safer,” Minister Bailey said.

The project created a consistent six lanes on the Bruce Highway between Sams Road and Mackay-Bucasia Road, and an additional two lanes for through-vehicles north to the Davey Street overpass.

Highway duplication on the northern side between Janes Creek and Blue Gum required a partial realignment of Janes Creek.

The realigned Janes Creek promotes natural flow conditions and retains channel capacity, with local plant species used to revegetate the watercourse's environment.

Major construction started in April 2020 and was undertaken by CPB Contractors, with more than 70 per cent of workers living in the Mackay local government area.

State Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said she is incredibly proud of the work done to transform the Bruce through Mackay.

“Incredibly, more than 624,000 work hours went into delivering this upgrade so I thank each and every worker for their time and effort,” Mrs Gilbert said.

“The realigned section of Janes Creek is also 'fish friendly' with the inclusion of fish-accessible structures and the placements of logs and rocks at random locations to provide habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.

"It’s great that we can deliver sustainable and environmentally friendly structures while building major road projects.”

Project Facts:

● Road embankment – 66,533m3

● 50,500m3 of excavation has occurred

● 8052m of electrical conduits have been laid

● 53,000t of asphalt has been laid (equivalent depth of nine Olympic swimming pools).

● 624,000+ hours have been worked on site

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