Queensland opens upgraded Bruce Highway

Australia's Queensland Government has officially opened the Cairns Southern Access-Foster to Robert Road on the Bruce Highway after completing A$58m ($45.9m) of upgrade works. 

The project was delivered three months ahead of schedule and included road conversion from four to six lanes, enabling greater traffic flow. 

Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said that the early completion of the project would provide significant benefits to Cairns and far north Queensland regions. 

Chester said: "These works are part of the Cairns Southern Access Corridor, and they’ll be a game-changer for the more than 36,000 motorists who use this section of the Bruce Highway into Cairns each day. 

"Widening this stretch of the Bruce Highway between Foster Road and Robert Road from four to six lanes is going to cut travel times for commuters and definitely improve safety for all drivers."

For this project, the Australian Government has provided A$46.4m ($36.8m), with A$11.6m ($9.2m) coming from the Queensland Government.

Project works began in June last year, as part of the Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade master plan, and created 147 jobs throughout the project. 

In addition, the Cairns Southern Access Corridor project has seen the creation of a new link between Progress Road and the Swallow Road Industrial Estate, as well as key intersection upgrades and improved access to White Rock.