Project info
In late 2010, the Department of Transport and Main Roads commenced a planning study for the future upgrade of the Bruce Highway between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway.
The department’s planning for the future upgrade of this 7 km section of highway is focusing on:
- upgrading the Bruce Highway/Sunshine Motorway interchange
- upgrading the Bruce Highway/Caloundra Road interchange
- widening the Bruce Highway from four lanes to six lanes between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway
- providing a western service road by extending Frizzo Road to Steve Irwin Way in the south and to Tanawha Tourist Drive in the north.
The planning study aims to:
- identify a corridor for the future upgrade
- provide a road that will be adequate for future traffic growth
- separate local and highway traffic
- provide immunity from a one-in-100 year flood event.
The future upgrade will benefit the community by improving safety on the highway and at the interchanges, improving capacity and transport efficiency, and upgrading flood immunity to minimise traffic delays.
Interim safety measures
The Australian Government has committed $13 million to carry out immediate safety improvement works on the Bruce Highway at Palmview. This will involve:
- extending Frizzo Road by 1.3 km to connect with Sippy Creek Road
- upgrading the northbound entry ramp from Frizzo Road to the Bruce Highway
- removing the Bruce Highway/Sippy Creek Road intersection.
This interim safety project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.
Key features of the draft plan
Bruce Highway/Sunshine Motorway interchange:
- new northbound entry ramp from the Sunshine Motorway to the Bruce Highway in the form of a ‘fly-over’ approximately 20m above ground level
- upgraded southbound ramps from the Bruce Highway to the Sunshine Motorway, and from the Sunshine Motorway to the Bruce Highway
- new roundabout at the intersection of Crosby Hill Road and the western service road via Tanawha Tourist Drive.
Sunshine Motorway/Sippy Downs Drive interchange:
- upgraded overpass to provide additional traffic lanes
- new loop connecting to the Sunshine Motorway eastbound
- removal of the Sunshine Motorway entry and exit ramps on the western side of the interchange to improve safety and traffic flow.
The entry and exit ramps to the western side of the Sunshine Motorway/Sippy Downs Drive interchange must be removed to comply with the national safety standards for spacing between this interchange and the Bruce Highway/Sunshine Motorway interchange. Motorists will be able to use the Sunshine Motorway/Dixon Road interchange or the western service road for local trips. This will improve safety through the removal of conflicting lane changing and merging movements on the Sunshine Motorway.
Western service road between Steve Irwin Way and Tanawha Tourist Drive:
- extension of Frizzo Road to connect to Steve Irwin Way in the south and Tanawha Tourist Drive in the north,
- access to the tourism precinct off Frizzo Road, Glenview Road, Martin Road, Sippy Creek Road, Cunning Road and Wilson Road. It will also provide access to Pignata Road,
- Laxton Road and Greenhaven Drive via an upgrade of the Pignata Road underpass, including new traffic signals,
- removal of the Frizzo Road northbound entry and exit ramps to the Bruce Highway,
- removal of the Pignata Road southbound entry and exit ramps to the Bruce Highway,
- connection of Wilson Road to Cunning Road and removal of the Wilson Road intersection with the Bruce Highway northbound exit ramp to the Sunshine Motorway.
Bruce Highway/Caloundra Road interchange:
- new entry and exit ramps between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra Road and Steve Irwin Way,
- a new bridge over the highway and interchange loops from Caloundra Road and Steve Irwin Way to the highway,
- realignment of a section of Steve Irwin Way and a new roundabout at the intersection with the western service road.
Widening the Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway will be widened from four lanes to six lanes between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway, with provision for eight lanes in the future. The speed limit on the upgraded highway will be returned to 110 km/hr, and immunity will be provided from a one-in-100 year flood event.
Project newsletter
For more information about the future upgrade, view the project newsletter (PDF, 880 KB). An A4 project newsletter (PDF, 951 KB) is also available.
Future traffic predictions
The video below is a traffic simulation of predicted traffic flows in the year 2035 on the future Bruce Highway. The draft plan is compared to the Bruce Highway without the upgrade.
Contact details
For further information about the project, please contact the project team:
| Phone: |
1800 706 917* (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm) |
|---|
| Email: |
brucehwycr-sm@ghd.com |
|---|
| Post: |
Stakeholder Engagement
Bruce Highway Upgrade Planning Study (CR to SM)
Reply Paid 1540
Buddina Qld 4575 |
|---|
*Freecall within Australia. Call charges may apply from mobile phones and pay phones
