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Carnarvon Highway (Surat – Roma), Balonne River Surat, replace bridge and approaches, planning

The Queensland Government is planning to replace the Surat Bridge over the Balonne River on the Carnarvon Highway.

The preferred option is to build a new bridge immediately east of the existing bridge, designed to improve safety, flood resilience and access for higher productivity vehicles.

Benefits

Improves safety
Improves network efficiency
Improves flood immunity
Contributes to economy
Contributes to regional growth
Better road access

Key features

New bridge constructed east of the existing bridge, with improved geometry and strength to support higher productivity vehicles.
Shared path across the bridge, connecting to the existing local footpath network.
Reinstating the shared path beneath the bridge to connect amenities, parking, camping areas and the boat ramp.
Retaining the Carnarvon Highway as the main route through Surat.
Reconfiguring Fisherman’s Park.
Upgrade to the Carnarvon Highway and Bymount Road intersection.

Funding

The Carnarvon Highway (Surat – Roma), Balonne River Surat, replace bridge and approaches, planning is part of the $1 billion Inland Freight Route Upgrade program (IFRU).

The $1 billion IFRU is a jointly committed initiative by the Australian Government ($800 million) and Queensland Government ($200 million), which will ultimately provide an alternative to the Bruce Highway by upgrading the IFR to allow for higher productivity vehicles including Type 2 road trains and Higher Mass Limit vehicles.

Investment ID: 3801040

Current status

We're currently seeking feedback from community members.

Community information session – November 2026

Community members can learn more, speak with the project team and provide feedback at an upcoming drop-in session:

Where: The Surat Hub
When: Thursday 12 November 2026, 10am–3pm

Feedback is particularly sought on the proposed design of the bridge and approaches, the community’s vision for Fisherman’s Park, and opportunities to recognise the history of the existing bridge.

Feedback received will help inform the preliminary design, which is due to be completed in late-2027.

Project location map

Map showing the Surat Bridge crossing the Balonne Rive and its approaches on the Carnarvon Highway at Surat.

Layout of the proposed bridge replacement

Map of the proposed bridge replacement at Surat. A new bridge and road alignment will cross the Balonne River on the Carnarvon Highway, south of the existing bridge, which will be demolished. The new alignment includes a new intersection with Bymount Road. Fisherman’s Park will move to a new area east of the highway, while a new parking and camping area will be established on the west. The Surat Public Boat Ramp, jetty access and parking, and existing amenities block are also shown.