Bruce Highway intersection upgrades confirmed after fiery triple fatal

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A notorious Bruce Highway intersection where three people died in a fiery crash last year will be upgraded to improve safety. 

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli made the announcement today near the T junction at Walker Street in Maryborough, three hours north of Brisbane.

It was the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in March 2024 that claimed the lives of truck drivers Daniel Stuart and Tim Hickey.

The premier made the announcement near the Maryborough intersection.  (ABC Wide Bay: Lucy Loram)

“I want this community to know that we are serious about giving them [Queenslanders] a Bruce Highway that they can be proud of,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The Bruce Highway is a national disgrace. It is a goat track and something needs to be done.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said planning and design work to upgrade the Walker Street intersection was underway.

“That will consider community feedback, but also what is the best outcome to ensure that the Bruce Highway is safe and traffic keeps moving,” Mr Mickelberg said.

A road is closed in the background, with the Walker Street sign in the foreground.

The intersection is often closed due to crashes.  (ABC Wide Bay: Lucy Loram)

He would not be drawn on whether the upgrade would likely involve a roundabout, ramps, or something else.

“That’ll be informed by the planning process and the detailed design process,” Mr Mickelberg said.

“We’ll go to them with different designs to ensure that whatever we’re going to deliver here meets community expectation.”

There is no timeline on when construction will begin.

Federal funding agreement

The Premier said it was part of a wider plan to upgrade the Bruce Highway, following the federal government pledging a $7.2 billion funding package for the 1,600-kilometre route.

It means the federal government would cover 80 per cent of the finances for the upgrades.

The federal opposition has promised to match the deal if it wins power at the upcoming election.

A composite of images: a red car driving on a road, a sign saying "rough surface", and potholes in a road.

The Bruce Highway is notorious for the bad condition of the road surface. (ABC News: Russel Talbot; Facebook)

“I come back [to Maryborough] with $9 billion in our pocket because we have been able to lever that commitment from the federal government,” Premier Crisafulli said.

Data from the Transport and Main Roads Department shows 23 people have died in road crashes in Queensland so far this year.

‘Do it properly’

Maryborough local Greg Ross has been driving his charter bus for 20 years and thinks the intersection needs on and off ramps.

A man leans on a fence in front of busses

Greg Ross says the Walker Street intersection needs ramps.  (ABC Wide Bay: Lucy Loram)

“[Ramps] would solve the whole problem,” he said.

He did not think a roundabout would be any good because of the volume of traffic on the Bruce Highway.

“You’ll have to put traffic lights there anyway if you put in a roundabout,” he said.

“Save the money and do it properly the first time.”

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