The long-awaited $1.162 billion Gympie Bypass is just weeks away from completion, with works on track to be finished by October 2024, pending favourable weather and construction conditions.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish and Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, are set to make the announcement today at the Gympie Bypass Community Day, where more than 3,000 community members gathered to celebrate the milestone. Attendees had the rare opportunity to walk on a section of the new highway near the Flood Road interchange before it officially opens to traffic.
The project involves the construction of a 26-kilometre, four-lane divided highway between Woondum, south of Gympie, and Curra. It marks the final stage of the $2.549 billion, 62-kilometre Bruce Highway upgrade from Cooroy to Curra, which commenced in 2009.
The Gympie Bypass is jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $929.6 million and the Queensland Government providing $232.4 million.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King highlighted the project’s impact, stating, “This stretch of highway will improve safety, flood resilience and capacity for motorists, as well as meeting the transport needs of the Gympie and Sunshine Coast communities well into the future.”
Senator Chisholm emphasised the significance of the milestone, noting, “This vital infrastructure project has been a long time coming for locals and visitors who travel through the Gympie region. While we’ve had wet weather this week, construction crews are committed to taking advantage of the drier months to complete the project on time.”
Minister Mellish commended the construction teams for their efforts, stating, “Our construction partners have built 42 bridges at 23 locations, moved more than 6 million cubic metres of earth, and laid over 142 kilometres of pavement and 610,000 tonnes of asphalt.”
The Gympie Bypass is expected to significantly enhance traffic flow and road safety in the region. Further details are available on the Queensland Transport and Main Roads website under ‘Section D’ of the Cooroy to Curra upgrade.
