1 minute read
Growth drives upgrades road
by Nick Crockford
The road network through Moreton Bay Region will be transformed in the next decade.
Billions of dollars will be spent preparing for a new highway, massive motorway expansion and significant road upgrades.
Driving the change is our region’s rapid growth, which will see the population leap from around 500,000 today to a projected 656,000 by 2041.
Planners must also cater for a surge in visitors during and after the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, with events in the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions.
The centrepiece will be a $2.1 billion upgrade for the Gateway Motorway from Deagon Deviation to the Bruce Highway and up to North Lakes.
It will include new lanes, service roads, bridges across Pine River, and on and off ramps. About 120 properties - some with brand new homes - will be resumed or impacted by the upgrades.
With major improvements at Deception Bay (intersection) and from Caboolture to Steve Irwin Way nearing completion, attention will turn to a new highway.
Stretching 60km from Beerburrum to Kallangur and then Bald Hills, the Bruce Highway Western Alternative is a decades-long project.
“Protecting” the route has already begun - Stage 1 Moodlu to Moorina is complete and Stage 2 Moorina to Narangba (through the planned Caboolture West township) begins this year.
Stage 3 Narangba to Kallangur and Stage 4 Beerburrum to Moodlu have yet to start.
However, there are hurdles to be overcome. Public consultation is key and Mayor Peter Flannery has significant concerns.
He has slammed delaying the Moreton Connector through Mango Hill and Griffin; criticised new homes being resumed for highway expansions and fears Caboolture West being built before necessary infrastructure is ready.
$163m Deception Bay Overpass –expected to finish early 2023
ROAD WORKS
$200m Buchanan Rd upgrade –not yet funded
$2.1 BILLION BRUCE HIGHWAY AND GATEWAY UPGRADE
• Construction to start on Dohles Rocks Rd ramps 2024
• Business case Dohles Rocks Rd – Anzac Ave due early 2023
• Business case for Gateway Motorway –Dohles Rocks Rd due late 2023
$663m
Bruce Highway Caboolture/Bribie Island Rd to Steve Irwin Way upgrade –expected to finish late 2023
BRUCE HIGHWAY WESTERN ALTERNATIVE (60KM)
STAGE 1 Moodlu-Moorina – required property now “protected”
Forest Hills Drive Interchange
Legend
Stage 3 will continue south towards Bald Hills. Further investigations will be undertaken to identi how and where to best connect to the road network in the south
Stage 1 Moodlu - Moorina (preferred alignment determined and corridor protected)
Stage 2 Moorina - Narangba (preferred alignment determined)
Stage 3 Narangba - Bald Hills (indicative study area)
State government roads
Local government roads Government owned land Emerging community Rail Power easements 1 in 100 year flood area
BHWA movements
Future Forest Hills Drive underpass Interchange with connections to Raynbird Road
Source: Department of Transport and Main Roads
ROADS Bribie Island | 41
