Highway motorists on the southern approach to Tully in Far North Queensland (FNQ) now have to slow down for road works.
A $25 million upgrade of the Bruce Highway, between Dean Road and Tully State High School, is now in full swing.
And driving conditions have changed with speed limits in place as well as single-lane flow and flashing warning messages.
Tully is located about 140km south of Cairns and 210km north of Townsville.
The Tully project involves:
- Upgrading signals at the intersection of Dean Road and the highway, road and shoulder widening, wide centre line treatment, vegetation removal, culvert installations and extensions, and drainage and edge treatments.
- Wide centre line treatment to replace the existing narrow road section to better separate vehicles.
MP for Hinchinbrook Wayde Chiesa said the early start to works is welcome news for Tully residents.
“The Bruce is the lifeline of FNQ; every safety improvement we can make on this corridor matters enormously for local families, commuters and freight operators.
“I encourage motorists to be patient and observe the changed traffic conditions while these works are completed; the result will be a safer road for everyone travelling through Tully.”
HIGHWAY PROGRAM
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King says the work is part of a highway-wide program across Queensland.
“We are providing the long-term certainty needed to make the Bruce Highway safer, stronger and more resilient to FNQ’s wet season,” she says.
State Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg says work on priority projects north of Gympie are accelerating.
“… further significant future upgrades will be rolled out strategically across Far North Queensland with overall completion targeting 2030.”
Assistant Minister for Northern Australia and Senator for Queensland Nita Green sats a safer highway will help regional economies.
“Upgrading the Bruce Highway … ensures our primary producers and tourism operators can travel across FNQ with greater confidence and fewer delays,” she says.
“By targeting this high-risk stretch between Dean Rd and Tully High School, we are delivering the modern, high-standard infrastructure that the Cassowary Coast deserves.”
The works are funded under a largely federal $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program.
Early works to prepare the site began in August with main construction ramping up with a target completion date in mid-2027.
The bill for the $25m upgrade is largely borne by the federal government ($20m) with the balance from the state government.
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