Bruce Highway (Ingham – Innisfail), Gairloch Floodway, improve safety
The Queensland Government is delivering an upgrade of the Bruce Highway at Gairloch Floodway to enhance safety and flood resilience along this complex and flood-prone section of the highway. Key improvements include road realignment, wide centre line treatment, and removal of a sharp curve to improve traffic flow and reduce flood-related disruptions.
Located within a 16km section of the Bruce Highway, from Ingham's southern outskirts to the Cardwell Range foothills, this area experiences regular flooding and road closures. Currently, the annual average time of submergence of this location is 1.4 days, which is expected to be reduced by more than half. The flood likelihood will drop from 54% to approximately 33% per year with the new alignment.
Benefits
- Improves safety
- Improves network efficiency
Key features
- Realignment of approximately 1.6km of the Bruce Highway to remove a sharp curve and straighten the road
- Implementation of wide centre line treatment to increase separation between vehicles and reduce the risk of head-on crashes
- A new bridge on the Bruce Highway at the Gairloch Floodway
- New culvert infrastructure
- Improved property access connections
Funding
This project is funded by the Australian Government.
The project scope, cost and timing are subject to further planning, consideration and negotiation with the Australian Government.
Investment ID: 2129809
- Total investment
- $48 million
- Australian Government
- $48 million
Current status
Detailed design was completed in December 2025. In early December 2025, we released the construction tender for the Bruce Highway (Ingham–Innisfail) program of works between Ingham and Cardwell Range, which includes the Bruce Highway (Ingham–Innisfail), Gairloch Floodway, improve safety project.
Project timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Project planning commenced | November 2021 |
| Planning phase completed | 2023 |
| Tender for detailed design award | August 2024 |
| Detailed design commenced | September 2024 |
| Detailed design completed | December 2025 |
| Construction expected to commence | Mid-2027 (weather permitting) |
Project location map
Map showing the location of a 1.6km upgrade section north of Ingham. The planned works will straighten the highway by removing an existing curve at the Gairloch Floodway, enhancing both safety and flood resilience.
