Motorists travelling along the Bruce Highway north of Curra will soon experience quicker, safer and less frustrating journeys, following the approval of funding to build fifty (50) additional overtaking lanes.

As part the Gillard Labor Government’s Bruce Highway Safety Package (Round Three) we’re addressing the lack of safe overtaking opportunities along this critical section of the national network used daily by up to 170,000 motorists and truck drivers.

Construction work at the first of these locations will begin in coming months, with all of them expected to be completed within three years.

In addition to the fifty new overtaking lanes between Curra and Cairns, our Bruce Highway Safety Package has already provided funding to:

• Fix over 80 black spots projects;


• Build some 25 new rest areas and stopping places as well as upgrade a significant number of existing rest areas; and


• Lay audible edge line markings.

Further funding allocations will be announced during the course of 2011.

Importantly, the Bruce Highway Safety Package is just one part of the $2.3 billion being invested by the Gillard Labor Government to modernise key sections of the Bruce Highway – almost twice as much in half the time when compared to our predecessors.

The major upgrades currently underway on the Bruce Highway include:

• Duplication of Townsville’s Douglas Arterial;


• Duplication of a 12 kilometre section between Cooroy and Curra;


• Upgrade of the southern approaches to Mackay; and


• Realignment and upgrade of the section through the Cardwell Range.